Football Liverpool: Alonso asks to leave

Football Liverpool: Alonso asks to leave as Anfield's dirty washing goes public

In the latest development in the ongoing transfer sagas at Anfield, Xabi Alonso has asked to leave Liverpool, reportedly requesting to be sold to AC Milan or Arsenal, fearing his football will be limited if he stays at Liverpool.

The continual wrangling amongst the Liverpool management team is set to plunge their football season into turmoil before it has even begun. The Parry Benitez relationship is clearly becoming untenable, with something going to have to give sooner or later, and from the demeanour of Benitez, he clearly doesn't believe it will be him.

Xabi Alonso asking to leave Liverpool is only the latest twist to a sorry football saga that has gone on since April, and one that has left two top quality footballers at clubs they'd rather leave. Throughout it all Benitez appears a remarkably calm football manager, and ever confident he will get his man in Gareth Barry.

It has to be said though, 18 & 16 million for either footballer is too expensive. A good 3 million of the price for each would be a much more reasonable deal, and you can see how Benitez is getting exasperated with Rick Parry - refusing to pay 18 million for the player above Carrick and Hargreaves in the England midfield, and demanding a similar fee for the player the club wants Barry to replace!

Liverpool's fans will be concerned that all the boardroom wrangling that seemed to have settled, has again burst to the surface threatening to derail not just the football season, but Liverpool Football club itself.

Football Rumours

Football Rumours: Alonso to AC Milan

Latest football rumours to hit the streets are that Xabi Alonso is a target for AC Milan, who are poised to offer 15 million for his services. Having said that we are not actually sure this rumour is worth repeating - we picked it up on FansFC which has a decidedly dodgy reputation on mywot.com.

Anyway we think it's a long shot to say the least. Alonso's immediate value has gone down, now he's played in the Champions League. Seems to us Benitez is resigned to biding his time until January. Barry will be 30+ by the time he arrives!

Also we note the rumour of Joe Cole to Liverpool has disappeared as quick as it arrived. The clubs mouthpiece the Liverpool Echo has neither denied or confirmed the transfer rumour, so there maybe something in it yet, but we think not.

Football rumours are swirling bigtime at this time of year, but these two latest football rumours we would bet our house on as not going to happen.

Liverpool: Alonso going nowhere

Liverpool say Alonso going nowhere as the rumours continue

Rafael Benitez has reiterated that cultured midfielder Xabi Alonso will not be sold under any circumstances. Moreover the Liverpool manager made a point of meeting Alonso's agent to emphasise this when he was at Anfield for the Inter Milan game.

A number of Spanish clubs have been linked with the Liverpool playmaker including Barcelona and Athletico Madrid, with rumours of the players reportedly fractured relationship with Benitez continuing to find their way into the papers.

Benitez has sought to play down such talk, pointing to the fact that players often don't like the manager when they don't play!

It seems to us that this is like the dreaded vote of confidence. You can be surer of no other thing that when a manager says a player will never be sold, he promptly will be. There's been to many briefings too the media on Alonso moving, and Liverpool already seem to have lined up his replacement in Diarra. It will be a sad loss to Liverpool when he goes, and we are at a loss to see why he isn't in the team. Then again Benitez and his rotations are beyond most people!

Liverpool: Alonso's time to deliver

Alonso determined to make up for lost time at Liverpool

Xabi Alonso, hoping for a rare first team start for Liverpool against Barnsley in the fifth round of the FA Cup, is desperate to make up for lost time in a season wrecked by injury.

Alonso has only started 13 games so far and has seen Gerrard and Mascherano, plus the emergence of Lucas, make his task in winning back his central midfield role for Liverpool all the harder. However there's little doubt the cultured midfielder has been sorely missed and there's little doubt that Liverpool's three best midfielders are Alonso, Mascherano and Gerrard.

There have been many times recently, as Liverpool have drawn game after game, that Liverpool have been crying out for someone to vary the range of passing or tempo of the game. Alonso, with one pass, can instantly put teams under pressure and create a threatening situation. That kind of creativity is something Liverpool have clearly lacked.

There seems to be rumblings of Alonso leaving in the summer, which would be a huge loss for Liverpool. If Benitez doesn't rate him for the first team anymore, it's another of his illogical moves, that have left may fans completely non-plussed. We had a team that came third in the Premier league, with our highest ever points total, and two key figures were Alonso and Crouch. Simple question - how on earth can they be on the bench with speculation that they are leaving?????!!!!!!!!

Alonso to Real Madrid, Barcelona or Athletico?

More speculation of an unsettled Xabi Alonso

Speculation is linking Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso with a summer move to Real Madrid, Barcelona or Atletico Madrid.

The Times are reporting Alonso is unhappy with the lack of first team football at Anfield, having made just 13 appearances so far this season. Given the mounting speculation it seems Rafa Benitez is willing to part with the midfielder and the big three of Spanish football appear to be leading the chase for the 26 year old.

Footy Focus remembers an odd quote from Alonso a few months ago, when he was out injured. He complained of a lack of football at Anfield and the article hinted he was unsettled. It was the first we'd seen of anything linking him with a move away. Seems to us the briefings are starting, and that a summer move is a done deal.

Liverpool have sorely missed him this season, and we have long argued Liverpool's best midfield is Alonso, Mascherano, Gerrard and one of Kewell/ Babel etc

Premier League Transfer Speculation & Rumours

The latest big-money Premier League transfer speculation
The wanderlust Nicholas Anelka now seems certain to move to Chelsea for a fee in the region of 10 million. Good move for Chelsea but I'm not so sure he'll get the games he wants when Drogba is back fit.

Other speculation and rumour sees Xabi Alonso going to Real Madrid in exchange for Julio Baptista and Gabriel Heinze. Bit of a wild one this - Rafa Benitez is far too canny to sell Alonso, though I can see him going for Heinze again.

Other speculation has it that Jermaine Defoe is a target for Portsmouth, Aston Villa, Chelsea and Manchester City. Given the amount of time he spends on the bench this one is entirely predictable and feasible. He'll be a great buy for whoever gets him - he is one of the few players around with a consistent strike rate.

Steven Taylor, the talented Newcastle centre-half is again the subject of much rumour about his future. This time West Ham are apparently watching his contract situation. This together with the reported interest from Arsenal and Liverpool would suggest a move is likely sometime soon.