Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso has handed in a transfer request in an attempt to seal a move to Real Madrid, according to reports in England on Thursday.
Real are keen to make Alonso their latest big-money signing but Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez has been holding out for a 35 million pounds transfer fee.
However, the Spanish club aren't willing to pay more than 28 million pounds and the Liverpool Echo claims Alonso has tried to force Benitez to sell by asking to leave.
Benitez is now believed to want Alonso, who is due back for training on Thursday after a short holiday at his San Sebastian home, to either complete the move or commit to Liverpool by the weekend.
On Wednesday Liverpool sold defender Alvaro Arbeloa to Real for 3.5 million pounds and they expect the delayed four million pounds move of Andrea Dossena to Napoli to be concluded by the weekend.