Perez interested in signing Alonso

REAL MADRID NEWS:REAL MADRID'S new president, Florentino Perez, is expected to commence his attempts to sign Xabi Alonso by offering the Spanish striker Alvaro Negredo as a makeweight in a deal to bring the Liverpool playmaker to the Bernabeu.

Perez’s reappointment to the Real presidency yesterday coincided with reports that a €25.5 million deal has been agreed in principle with Alonso and Liverpool. The suggestion was immediately denied by Liverpool manager, Rafael Benitez, who repeated that the 27-year-old is not for sale, although that resolve will be tested in the coming weeks, with Real among several parties, including Arsenal, who are keen on the Spain international.

Despite public assertions to the contrary, the prospect of Alonso leaving Anfield remains alive. His relationship with Benitez was badly strained by the manager’s attempts to sell him last summer, to fund the aborted deal for Gareth Barry, and the manager must sell to meet all his current transfer requirements.

Negredo was top scorer this season for Almeria with 19 goals and has been monitored by Liverpool scouts for several months. The 23-year-old has a buy-out clause of around €14 million but, as a product of Real’s youth system, would cost his former club only €5.1 million under the terms of his move to Almeria in 2007.

Though Perez could finance a straight cash deal for Alonso as he embarks on another lavish spending spree this summer, re-signing Negredo and offering him as a cut-price option to Liverpool may make such a move appeal to Benitez.

Depending on the striker’s valuation as a makeweight, he could theoretically enable the Liverpool manager to strengthen his attack and fund a renewed bid for Barry with the Alonso money.

Former Manchester United defender Gabriel Heinze, a target for Benitez in the past, has also been mentioned as part of a Real bid for the midfielder.

“The situation is clear, we do not want to sell our best players and that includes Xabi,” Benitez reiterated yesterday. “He had a very good season for us and can be an important player in the future.

“There is no agreement with Real and we want him to be part of our plans going forward. Xabi himself told our club magazine only two weeks ago that he was looking forward to his sixth season as a Liverpool player. Why should he want to leave now?”

Alonso may ultimately have to declare a desire to leave Liverpool for Benitez to accept Real’s impending offer.

Perez has insisted Madrid will buy Spanish players as well as international ones. Alonso heads the list together with Valencia’s David Villa and David Silva.

Meanwhile, Perez will today formally unveil Manuel Pellegrini as his new coach. Madrid opted to take Pellegrini from Villarreal after Arsene Wenger and Jose Mourinho turned down the job.

Madrid will pay about €4 million to get the 55-year-old Chilean, who led Villarreal in two Champions League campaigns, reaching the 2006 semi-finals and this year’s quarter-finals.

Madrid remain keen to sign Manchester United’s Ronaldo but their immediate priorities are Milan’s Kaka and Franck Ribery of Bayern Munich. The club’s outlay this summer could be as high as €300 million.