Alonso is still a Real target

European big spenders 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.

However, 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.”