Juventus have confirmed an interest in signing Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso.

The Spain international has been strongly linked with a move to the Italian giants since the end of the Premier League season.

Reports earlier this week claimed that the two clubs had been holding talks, with Liverpool rumoured to be demanding £14million for the cultured midfielder.

But Juve's sporting director Alessio Secco has revealed that the club are keen to sign the 26-year-old after Mathieu Flamini joined Milan.

Juve are also confident that Alonso will prove to be a better option than Flamini, who has chosen to quit Arsenal for Milan on a free transfer.

Secco told Tuttusport: "Xabi is better than Flamini.

"He's (Flamini) a good player, but with the salary he wanted he would have unbalanced our situation.

"The Spaniard, instead, has characteristics that are closer to what we want."