Xabi Alonso (Arsenal)

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/2008/12/08/arsenal-in-new-swoop-for-liverpool-star-xabi-alonso-exclusive-115875-20954236/
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is ready to make a new bid for Liverpool's Spanish midfield supremo Xabi Alonso - and bring his strength and experience into his side.

Wenger sent top and trusted spy Steve Rowley to watch the Kop ace in scoring action against Blackburn Rovers at the weekend ahead of a £12 million move.

The Gunners chief regrets not signing Alonso last summer when Liverpool refused to sell while they were chasing his replacement Gareth Barry.

Now Wenger - alarmed by the occasional immaturity of his team - is back on the case and with the cash backing to make one hugely significant signing if Liverpool will play ball.

The only snag is that Alonso cannot play in the Champions League, but Wenger's main worry is making the elite competition next season by finishing in the top four and a hefty fee is worth investing in that equation.

Alonso has been a big part of Liverpool's title push but Rafa Benitez had admitted that he would still sign Barry from Aston Villa if he had the money to do so.

Barry is about to enter the last 18 months of his contract and although Villa say they are happy to let the season pass they could now have new bids for the England star.

However Liverpool now face rivalry from newly-rich Manchester City, with Mark Hughes keen to land Barry next month - and with the money to outbid them in the market.

A massive tug-of-war is about to start with both Alonso and Barry involved - as they were in the summer - but now with a third club pulling in another direction.

                                                                                                                                                     
If this happens we will be screwed 'cos he is playing better than gerrard (after his injure). If rafa' decides to sell him he will make his worst decision in world football transfers. Sammy give a rafa an advice to give alonso a new contract. Hope this is not true. 

12 Million quid?
Wenger's been on the wacky backy.

I would not take less than 55+m for him end of story. I put a price tag not brcause i want to sell him but to fighthened the buying team.

if xabi is sold, you can say bye bye to number 19

just trying to say that Xabi is as important as Stevie, Jamie and Fernando

Xabi should not leave it would be stuppid for Rafa sell a player of such quality,he has played with such conviction since all the speculation of him leaving.KEEP XABI.i

Ahhh Wenger makes me laugh sometimes

if xabi is sold, you can say bye bye to number 19

just trying to say that Xabi is as important as Stevie, Jamie and Fernando

I strongly agree. He has been clearly one of if not THE best player for us this season. If we sold him it would be the worst decision of Rafa's life. Even the decision to have that awful beard is a better decision than selling Alonso.

I guess we'll see how Rafa fancies getting Barry. I'm strongly against it now. I called for Xabi to stay and give na more advanced role and its eventuated, now he is in the form of his life for us.

Voyeur, bidding starts at 35 million quid.

£12m, I just don't get the French sence of humor. My reply, "Nique ta m?re "
http://www.youswear.com/index.asp?language=French

Xabi will be going no where. He is back. Even Rafa said, why wold he go to a disorgised footbaling team, with great admiistration, when he has the opposite here.

£12m, I just don't get the French sence of humor. My reply, "Nique ta m?re "

Didn't need to translate it either!

poor Wenger is going a bit crazy in old age 12million! dont be silly

poor Wenger is going a bit crazy in old age 12million! dont be silly

 maybe if he became our assisstant manager and he brought walcott, clichy, vela, sagna, fabregas, welshere and adebayor then we MIGHT just THINK about it

maybe if he became our assisstant manager and he brought walcott, clichy, vela, sagna, fabregas, welshere and adebayor then we MIGHT just THINK about it

Why would we want all of those players? I just want Xabi!

Do one Wenger.

If Rafa let Xabi go after the season he's been having for us, I'll send Smigger down to Melwood to have a few words.

Wenger really is a stupid b***ard if he thinks that he can offer the same price that he did in the summer.

Perhaps he has failed to notice the fact that he is now playing the best football that he ever has for us. If Rafa even enters negotiations with them, then he really would need his head checking.

Hahaha  poor wenger.He offered 12mill.  last summer..Rafa and Liverpool said NO NO NO
   Do you think they will say yes today for that same  sum
   The price  has trippled and more now
 so look elswhere for your team Mr A.W
  Xabi is here to stay

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/2008/12/08/arsenal-in-new-swoop-for-liverpool-star-xabi-alonso-exclusive-115875-20954236/
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is ready to make a new bid for Liverpool's Spanish midfield supremo Xabi Alonso - and bring his strength and experience into his side.

Wenger sent top and trusted spy Steve Rowley to watch the Kop ace in scoring action against Blackburn Rovers at the weekend ahead of a £12 million move.

The Gunners chief regrets not signing Alonso last summer when Liverpool refused to sell while they were chasing his replacement Gareth Barry.

Now Wenger - alarmed by the occasional immaturity of his team - is back on the case and with the cash backing to make one hugely significant signing if Liverpool will play ball.

The only snag is that Alonso cannot play in the Champions League, but Wenger's main worry is making the elite competition next season by finishing in the top four and a hefty fee is worth investing in that equation.

Alonso has been a big part of Liverpool's title push but Rafa Benitez had admitted that he would still sign Barry from Aston Villa if he had the money to do so.

Barry is about to enter the last 18 months of his contract and although Villa say they are happy to let the season pass they could now have new bids for the England star.

However Liverpool now face rivalry from newly-rich Manchester City, with Mark Hughes keen to land Barry next month - and with the money to outbid them in the market.

A massive tug-of-war is about to start with both Alonso and Barry involved - as they were in the summer - but now with a third club pulling in another direction.

Don't see any quotes from Wenger or Rafa...

Utterly over-the-top garbage trying to sell their rag.  : Look at the bit in bold, you'd think they'd sent F***ing James Bond to watch Alonso by flying into the stadium on a radar undetectable hanglider.

Honestly!  :

Do one Wenger.

If Rafa let Xabi go after the season he's been having for us, I'll send Smigger down to Melwood to have a few words.

I'd gladly do that Ken 

It's more media bullshit.

Alonso will not be leaving for Arsenal, especially seeing as he is in hot form and Arsenal are a rival so the talk of a January move is also out the question.

And for £12mill Juve offered more than that and it was deemed as not good enough and his value has shot up alot more since then.

I dont think he will leave in the summer either.

Should be going to Anfield and showing support for Xabi. Don't think Rafa would come on here and see this thread.

No Way the bearded menace Xabi leaving us for arsenal. Best of player of the season, IMO

Oh God No, give me 40million for him and i might think about it. But probably not.
He's been brilliant this season keeping Masch out of the side a fair bit.
Don't sell him please Rafa. (this story is probably sh*te anyway)

No way, i want this guy to play till his 34 here end his career here.
Really like this guy, one of kind.

if xabi is sold, you can say bye bye to number 19

just trying to say that Xabi is as important as Stevie, Jamie and Fernando

xabi cannoy leave period i will have benitez's head if xabi leaves ggggrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

Xabi isnt leaving, as if Rafa will be stupid enough to sell him to a rival club and sell a world class player for 12 mill.

Liverpool's Xabi Alonso a target for Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/premierleague/liverpool/3934679/Liverpools-Xabi-Alonso-a-target-for-Arsenal-manager-Arsene-Wenger.html
The injury to Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas has prompted manager Arsene Wenger to renew his interest in Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso.

Fabregas is likely to be out for four months with knee ligament damage, ironically the result of a tackle with Alonso during Sunday's 1-1 draw with Premier League leaders Liverpool.

Arsenal reportedly made a £14 million deadline-day bid for the Spaniard in August but Wenger refused to meet the Anfield club's valuation of £17m.

Wenger is notoriously loath to spend unnecessarily so this latest news seems to confirm Arsenal’s need to strengthen their midfield, especially now that Fabregas is out for so long.

A source close to the Arsenal board blamed the club's failure to land Alonso in August on the delay in naming a successor to David Dein, who departed as chief executive last year.

New chief executive Ivan Gazidis, who will formally join Arsenal on Jan 1st, will bring with some much-needed experience in player contract negotiations from America.

The source said: “Hopefully Gazidis can come in and recognise that Wenger needs someone like Dein in his ear to reassure him that the money is there to spend.”

Inaki Ibanez, Alonso's agent, had previously insisted his client would leave Liverpool in the summer after becoming frustrated with a lack of first-team football, having only a year earlier signed a deal to stay until 2012. The speculation surrounding Aston Villa’s Gareth Barry’s move to the club further unsettled the Spaniard.

Subsequently, however, Alonso has become a key part of a Rafael Benitez side currently topping the Premier League.

Should Liverpool wish to sell, the potential transfer price may be lowered as Alonso would be cup-tied in Europe having played in the Champions League.

Other Arsenal targets include Yaya Toure, the Barcelona midfielder, Juventus youngster Sebastian Giovinco and Stephane Mbia, of Rennes and AC Milan striker Alexandre Pato

If rafa sell him in janurary, he will lose the league without a doubt. he is our best player this year. this is all media sh*t.

If Villa wanted £18mill 4 Barry ,then xabi is worth in the region of £45 mill ,dont you think Wenger?

I want him here till he wants to retire. His vision will be the same, even improve, and if he loses pace, it's not that much of a problem he isn't blisteringly fast anyway.

Should Liverpool wish to sell, the potential transfer price may be lowered as Alonso would be cup-tied in Europe having played in the Champions League.

Says it all really. World-class midfielder who was going for 14 million and his price may be lower because he isnt available for the CL. If anything, his price before as 25 million, now its 30 if they want him so bad.

I want him to end his career in Liverpool. He doesn't need the pace. He has the quick feet, vision and passing ability and the loss of pace isn't bad as he doesn't use speed to beat players.

He's one of the backbones of the team. He is in the heart of the Liverpool midfield and he scored one of the most important goals in the title race against Chelsea.

Lose him, and we'll lose the title and maybe even more.

  This is all sh*t press  rumours . I bet nothing true to it .
        and if there is some truth in it -- arsene go Fu*k youself ,with 12mill. you won't even buy Xabi's boots
    maybe  Rafa will think about it (doubt it though ) if you come with a 40,000,000+ check ,
       Xabi is here to stay                   

Even if the rumors were true, and Wenger wants our boy Alonso, there's no way Rafa would want to sell now when he's doing so well and changing games. Plus we're fighting in the middle of the league and fighting for the title so selling him to a rival? Doesn't make sense. You'd better set your eyes on someone else Wenger!
Alonso is ours!

Even if the rumors were true, and Wenger wants our boy Alonso, there's no way Rafa would want to sell now when he's doing so well and changing games. Plus we're fighting in the middle of the league and fighting for the title so selling him to a rival? Doesn't make sense. You'd better set your eyes on someone else Wenger!
Alonso is ours!

They're not rivals ... not title rivals anyway !

Cant see Xabi going in Jan sales and why would Rafa sell Xabi to one of our rivals as that would only hurt us. I cant see any one whose been mentioned except maybe Gareth Barry going to MC but then again who knows if Hugues will still be there. I trust Rafa in whatever he does as most of what he says and does is for Liverpool fc and not Rafa Benitas.....

I think it's unlikely he'll sell an important player like Xabi to a Premier League team. Actually, he shouldn't even think of selling Xabi. Our pass master, is back.

I think this can be locked TBA

 

I think this can be locked TBA

Totally agree..this thread shoud be locked , Xabi is staying put . Rafa won't sell  him
 the only players that MAYBE would go . Dossena and  Pennant  ,and only if a good offer is recieved

  Totally agree..this thread shoud be locked , Xabi is staying put . Rafa won't sell  him
 the only players that MAYBE would go . Dossena and  Pennant  ,and only if a good offer is recieved

Yea!, a 20quid woolies voucher for both

well,arsenal isn't going to buy xabi,coz liverpool offer is 17mil,arsenal bid is 12mil,in january xabi tranfers market is 35mil,juventus right now want to bid for 38mil,if its happening

liverpool can buy superb player with that money but xabi is important

well,arsenal isn't going to buy xabi,coz liverpool offer is 17mil,arsenal bid is 12mil,in january xabi tranfers market is 35mil,juventus right now want to bid for 38mil,if its happening

liverpool can buy superb player with that money but xabi is important

Juventus want to bid 38 million for him? Where did you hear that? Total garbage. They were offering 12 million before and now 38 when he is cup tied?

They're not rivals ... not title rivals anyway !

That's what I meant

i dont think rafa will sell xabi . he settled well and plays well , and he is important to the teams success thus far in the season . We definately have a very good squad , rafa might add to the right wing or strikeforce .