Real target Xabi swoop

By ANTONY KASTRINAKIS
Published: Today
REAL MADRID are ready to offer midfield star Ruben de la Red PLUS £8million for Liverpool’s Xabi Alonso.

Kop boss Rafa Benitez wanted to nab De La Red last season but Madrid decided to do a deal with Getafe instead.
De La Red, 22, was sold for £2m but Real inserted a clause allowing them to buy him back this summer for £3.5m.
And now the Madrid giants are planning to use De La Red as bait to land Spanish international midfielder Alonso, 26.
A Real insider told SunSport: “It is a case of the club deciding whether to keep De La Red or to try and get Alonso. The Liverpool player is the one they have wanted to sign for a long time.”
De La Red has impressed this term and earned his first call-up to the Spain squad for today’s friendly with Italy.
Liverpool left-back John Arne Riise will consider quitting Anfield this summer if he keeps warming the bench.
Riise, 27, has struggled to force his way into the team this season as Benitez continues to pick Fabio Aurelio.
The Norwegian said: “I am not happy. I’m used to playing 80 per cent of games. If I don’t play as much as I want, I must decide if I should stay.”