Liverpool agree Alonso fee with Real - Sport in brief - Evening Standard
       

Liverpool agree Alonso fee with Real

Liverpool's Xabi Alonso is poised to sign for Real Madrid on Wednesday after the clubs agreed a fee believed to be £30million for the Spain international.

The end of a summer-long saga over the 27-year-old's future ended on Tuesday when Liverpool issued a short statement effectively bringing to a close his spell on Merseyside.

The statement read: "Liverpool Football Club confirmed on Tuesday evening they had reached agreement for the sale of Xabi Alonso to Real Madrid, subject only to a medical. The terms of the deal will remain confidential and undisclosed."

But although Liverpool will not reveal the details of the deal, privately sources were maintaining that manager Rafael Benitez had got his own way over the fee.

It is believed that Madrid made another attempt to end the deadlock on Tuesday with an offer of £30m that will rise to £34m depending on Alonso's success over the first two years of what is believed to be a five-year contract.

Alonso had trained with his Liverpool colleagues on Tuesday afternoon at the club's Melwood complex.

But as the Liverpool party headed for John Lennon airport and a charter flight to Norway for Wednesday's friendly with Lyn Oslo, Alonso was heading back to Spain.

Real Madrid issued a statement of their own, confirming he will have a medical on Wednesday.

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