Real Madrid make cheap move for Liverpool star Xabi Alonso

Real Madrid have made a cheeky new move for Liverpool star Xabi Alonso - offering less than they did before.

The Spanish giants claim to have lodged a £25million bid last week which was rejected - and their petulant response was to reduce the figure by £3m in a new approach.

"It's not a mystery that Real Madrid are interested in signing him (Alonso) but it won't be easy," the club's new coach Manuel Pellegrini admitted last night.

"We are looking at alternatives for some positions," he added.

"The attack is complete and perhaps a central midfielder or full-back is still missing but the rest of the positions are covered."

The big-spending Madrid money men have splashed out a fortune this summer and this latest effort to get Alonso comes in the wake of reports in Spain that the Anfield star wants the move.

Alonso is reported to have told Liverpool chief Rafa Benitez by phone that he wants to leave.

Real believe that Alonso wants to join them, but this latest transter tactic has only soured relationships between the two clubs.

Benitez knows that replacing Alonso will be hard - though players like Marseille's Lorik Cana and Standard Leige's Stefan Defour are on his radar.

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