Xabi Alonso (L'Arsenal)

Cesc wants Xabi but Xabi wants Liverpool. 

Arsenal attempted to land Alonso on deadline day

Daily Post

LIVERPOOL resisted a late move from Arsenal to sign Xabi Alonso before the transfer deadline on Monday night.

The Gunners made contact with Anfield officials to enquire about the availability of the Spain international (right). But before any talk of a possible bid could be begin, the Londoners were told the midfielder was not for sale.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger had targeted Alonso to bolster his midfield after both Mathieu Flamini and Aleksandr Hleb departed the Emirates in the summer.

Alonso’s international team-mate Cesc Fabregas had urged the Liverpool man to make the move south, but Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez had no intention of weakening his midfield without any reinforcements lined up.

Alonso is currently with the Spain squad preparing for their forthcoming World Cup qualifiers against Bosnia and Armenia.

Spain will be without Fernando Torres, whose hamstring tear will also rule him out of Liverpool’s home clash with United on Saturday week.

But Alonso believes the Anfield side can deal with the striker’s absence.

“He is an important player, but we have to work through these situations when players are injured are suspended,” he said. “We have to overcome that and play well in order to obtain good results.”

  Nice try Arsene.

With us not getting Barry there was no chance.  At least we know now why the lights were on late at Anfield that day.

Wonder how much they were offering?

Wonder how much they were offering?

GBP 14M apparently.

Which we would have taken as little as two weeks ago... but how did they think we would sell without us having time to sign a replacement (Barry).

Wenger must think we are desperate... which we are... but stupid we are not.