Rafa Benitez's fee warning to Arsene Wenger

Rafa Benitez has warned Arsene Wenger he can forget about trying to pick up Xabi Alonso on the cheap.

Anfield boss Benitez has made it clear he would be willing to let Alonso leave Liverpool - but only if the price is right.

And that means Arsenal manager Wenger will have to up his planned £14m bid by at least £2m to have any chance of landing the Spanish Euro 2008 winner.

Benitez said: "I told Xabi before that I would be prepared to sell him and the reasons why.

"He knew we needed to sell because we needed money and we spoke with Juventus and then Arsenal.

"And I was very clear, I can't sell Xabi cheap.

"We have a lot of central midfielders and holding midfielders and we needed British players and players in the wide areas."