Reds duo are still on Real’s radar

European giants Real Madrid’s sporting director Miguel Pardeza has confirmed that the club are still hoping to Liverpool FC players Xabi Alonso and Alvaro Arbeloa, after a brief stall in the Los Merengues pursuit of the duo.

While Alonso has put a question mark over his future at Anfield, with reports that he has already prepared himself for a move to the Spanish capital, Arbeloa is another transfer target the Madrid club is keen upon.

Real, who have already splashed huge cash during the current transfer window in signing Kaka, Benzema, and Cristiano Ronaldo, want to improve their midfield by signing Alonso, who was already a transfer target from the begginning in Florentino Perez’s new regime.

With reports claiming that the two clubs are closing on agreeing a deal with Real ready to pay €35m, Real made a move for former youth product Esteban Granero from Getafe on wednesday.

But Pardeza was quick to point out that they he was in no way an alternative to Alonso.

“We do not see him as an alternative to Xabi Alonso as he has other characteristics,” declared Pardeza in Publico.

“The problem with Alonso is there are no alternatives, with the way football is evolving, the creative central midfielder is becoming fewer and fewer.

“Alonso is not a fad, there are just not may alternatives – not in the Americas or in Europe are their players who can perform his task.”

Pardeza admits talks with Liverpool have not been easy.

He added: “They stalled, from day one – the demands of Liverpool were beyond what Madrid was willing to pay and that is very difficult to understand.

“That is not the way to get things done, but I have not given up hope we can solve this.”

Pardeza admits that then ongoing situation at Anfield regarding Javier Mascherano, who has been linked with a move to Barcelona, does complicate Alonso’s desire to leave.

“As I said I do not believe this [Alonso] will be an easy situation to solve, and I don’t for one minute think that Mascherano will be easier to move than Alonso,” he added.

He also confirmed that Alonso’s team-mate Arbeloa was still in their sights.

“On Arbeloa, that is an option which – for the time being – has come to nothing,” he said

“Liverpool do not really have the desire to let him go, even though he has just a year left on his contract.

“But there is a month to go in the market and anything can change, and I would not deny that we would very much like to have Arbeloa.”

Pardeza did rubbish claims that Rafa Benitez was deliberately stalling when it came to negotiations with Real.

“I do not see that at all, at least with me and Jorge [Valdano, Real director general] he is open and discusses things, I don’t see that as a problem at all,” he concluded.

Pardeza also confirmed that Real had made no move for Arsenal star Cesc Fabregas.

“It’s an option that we have not covered,” he said of the Spanish international.