Liverpool are still waiting for a formal bid to arrive from Juventus for midfielder Xabi Alonso.

The Guardian says reports in Italy over the weekend claimed Juventus had succeeded with an improved bid of £14.2m for the Spain international, yet Liverpool have not received an official bid from the Turin club. Negotiations between the clubs have been ongoing for several weeks, however, and the Juventus chief executive, Jean-Claude Blanc, is expected to travel to Merseyside early this week to finalise the fee.

Liverpool have been holding out for £15m for the 26-year-old, a £10.5m signing from Real Sociedad in 2004, and Alonso is understood to have reached a verbal agreement with Juventus on the terms of a four-year contract.