Real Madrid refuse to pay over the odds for Liverpool pair Xabi Alonso and Alvaro Arbeloa. The Sun says Real Madrid are keen to bring Spanish midfielder Xabi, 27, home along with Kop team-mate Arbeloa.

And Alonso is keen to move because he feels Rafa Benitez, who almost sold him to Juventus last summer, is pushing him towards the exit door.

Real are willing to pay around £23million for the duo but will not be held to ransom.