1:38pm Tuesday 5th August 2008
REPORTS suggest Turkish club Fenerbahce have moved ahead of Arsenal in the race to sign Xabi Alonso from Liverpool.
Arsene Wenger is reportedly still interested in the Spanish international but Rafa Benitez is reluctant to sell him to a rival Premier League club.
The 26-year-old midfielder's move to Juventus fell through earlier in the summer and now it is thought that former Spain coach, Luis Aragones, has met Liverpool's asking price and is desperate to take Alonso to his new side Fenerbahce.
Wenger appeared to focus on Alonso after ruling himself out of a move for Aston Villa's Gareth Barry, although the £18million price tag is proving a stumbling block, and he may turn his attentions to Real Madrid midfielder Ruben De La Red, who is available at £9.5million.
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