Liverpool placed a £35 million valuation on Xabi Alonso last night after the Spain midfield player said his goodbyes to some members of the club's staff. However, Real Madrid, with whom the player has been linked, have not yet made an official offer.

Alonso's relationship with Rafael Benítez has been troubled since the Liverpool manager began his pursuit of Gareth Barry last year. Although Benítez wants to keep the 27-year-old, there is a growing acceptance at Anfield that the player is likely to move to Real.

Benítez has justified paying up to £18.5 million to Portsmouth for Glen Johnson, who has joined on a four-year contract, because the right back was English. The manager has offered a new contract to Álvaro Arbeloa, who has one year left on his deal, but is also wanted by Real.

“We knew the market was going to be difficult this summer and some of it has been crazy,” Benítez said. “We could buy one more player without selling anyone.”

Decent bets

Karim Benzema's agent, Karim Djaziri, said that the forward will cost less than £34 million when he leaves Lyons. Djaziri, who based his estimate on transfers of similar players, confirmed Manchester United's interest but has said that the player will stay in France for another year.

“Sir Alex Ferguson wants Karim this summer,” Djaziri said. “[But] Karim can't be more valued than David Villa [of Valencia], who will cost more than €40 million [about £34 million]. The question is not if he will sign for one of the big clubs, but when.”

Olivier Kapo, the Wigan Athletic midfield player, would like to return to play in France. The 28-year-old, who began his career in Auxerre, has started only ten league games since he moved for £3.5 million from Birmingham City last year. “I have a big craving to play in a club better than Wigan for me to blossom,” he said.

Birmingham are tracking Ferne Snoyl, the 24-year-old midfield player who is out of contract at RKC Waalwijk, of the Netherlands.

Ryan Donk, the AZ Alkmaar defender on loan at West Bromwich Albion last season, is wanted by FC Bruges. Nancy have said that Hull City are edging the race from Celtic for Marc-Antoine Fortuné, the forward who is also wanted by Fulham. The French club have accepted a fee of about £3.5 million and have allowed the player to discuss personal terms.

Dead certs

Cristiano Ronaldo will be joining Real Madrid on Wednesday on a six-year deal, the Spanish club confirmed last night. Gaël Givet has signed a four-year deal after Blackburn Rovers paid £3.4 million for the left back, who has made 14 league appearances since he joined on loan from Marseilles in January. Mark Yeates has signed a three-year deal with Middlesbrough after moving from Colchester United.

Long shots

Kader Keita has been linked with a move to Everton or West Ham United, both of which seem unlikely because Lyons want to recover the €16 million that they paid for the winger two years ago. Rennes want talks with Everton about Stéphane M'Bia, the midfield player who the French club value at £10.5 million.

Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has reaffirmed that Franck Ribéry will remain at Bayern Munich, where the winger has two years left on his contract. “Franck Ribéry is irreplaceable,” the chairman said.

Cardiff City are vying with Ipswich Town to sign Damien Delaney, the defender, from Queens Park Rangers.

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