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16:36 GMT, Friday, 10 July 2009 17:36 UK

Alonso remains a target for Real

Klass-Jan Huntelaar (left) and Cristiano Ronaldo (right)

Real Madrid have reiterated their desire to add Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso to their list of high-profile summer recruits.

Reports suggest that the Premier League club are asking for up to £50m for the 27-year-old Spanish international.

"Madrid don't discard an option until it is truly impossible," said Real sporting director Miguel Pardeza.

"Right now there is an insurmountable economic barrier but that is something that can change."

Madrid have spent £209m so far this summer to bring Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka, Karim Benzema and Raul Albiol to the Bernabeu as part of president Florentino Perez's new 'galactico' project, designed to bring the world's best players to the club.

However, director general Jorge Valdano has said the club also want to sign more homegrown players, including Alonso, who played for Real Sociedad before moving to Liverpool in the summer of 2004.

In May, Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez insisted he did not want to sell the midfielder, saying: "Alonso has three years left on his deal - we're really pleased with him. We don't want to sell."

606: DEBATE

" I don't think money could buy Alonso's worth to us for this coming season. We simply must keep him! "


K-Tolo

Pardeza also revealed that Real currently have no plans to attempt to sign Arsenal and Spain midfielder Cesc Fabregas.

"He's a great player, without a doubt but, at the moment, he is not a Real Madrid target," said Pardeza. "The club is working on other ones."

Real have also been heavily linked to Bayern Munich's 26-year-old French international midfielder Frank Ribery.

The Madrid squad trained together for the first time on Friday since the club's expensive summer recruitment drive.

However, a number of players present at the Valdebebas complex may soon be departing the club, including Dutch striker Klass-Jan Huntelaar.

The 25-year-old has been linked with a summer move to Manchester United, but now seems set to join German side Stuttgart with Spanish media suggesting a 20m euro (£18m) transfer fee has been agreed between the clubs.

"There are negotiations and we're just about at the point where the player needs to make a decision," said Pardeza.

Fellow Dutch internationals Ruud van Nistelrooy, Arjen Robben and Wesley Sneijder have all been linked with moves away from the Bernabeu.




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Related to this story:

Benitez insists Alonso will stay (24 May 09 |  Liverpool )
Benzema 'chose Real over Man Utd' (10 Jul 09 |  Football )
Real Madrid agree on Benzema deal (02 Jul 09 |  Europe )
How can Real Madrid afford Ronaldo? (11 Jun 09 |  Business )
Ronaldo completes £80m Real move (01 Jul 09 |  Man Utd )
Kaka completes Real Madrid switch (09 Jun 09 |  Europe )
Perez to return as Real president (01 Jun 09 |  Europe )
Fabregas pledges Arsenal loyalty (26 Jun 09 |  Arsenal )
Rovers downbeat on Van Nistelrooy (07 Jul 09 |  Blackburn )

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