New Real Madrid president Florentino Perez has wasted no time in getting to work at the club, having signed up Villarreal manager Manuel Pellegrini to take over at the Bernabeu. The next signing he has his sights on seems to be Liverpool’s Xabi Alonso.

Alonso was arguably Liverpool’s best player of the last season, linking defence and attack superbly with his incredible range of passing. He developed almost a perfect relationship with his midfield partner Javier Mascherano to provide options in attack and plenty of protection for the back four. His form has not gone unnoticed and now the Spanish giants want to test manager Rafa Benitez’s resolve to keep hold of the playmaker with a giant £22 million bid.

Rumours suggest despite statements to the contrary, Alonso’s relationship with Benitez is strained after the Red’s manager tried to sell Alonso last summer to provide the funds needed to bring in Aston Villa’s Gareth Barry and so a move is not totally out of the question; the £22 million would also provide the fund needed to make a move for Valencia’s David Silva, the creative attacking player that Benitez knows he needs to provide extra options upfront.

Possible makeweights in the deal include the defender Gabriel Heinze and striker Alvaro Negredo, current top scorer for Almeria with 19 goals and also a player watched on several occasions by Liverpool’s scouts.

With Madrid interested, this rumour is likely to run and run – but will Liverpool decide to cash in on their playmaker?