Alonso-Barcelona Rumours Gather Pace

Liverpool star Xabier Alonso has refused to accept or deny tranfer rumours linking him with a move to Spanish and European giants FC Barcelona in January, leading to uncertainty pertaining to the Spanish international’s future at Anfield.

It has been reported that Barcelona would like to sign the defensive midfielder from Liverpool when the transfer window reopens in January should Yaya Toure leave the club for Italian powerhouse Juventus.

Toure, signed by Barca in the summer of 2007, has been frustrated by the lack of first team action under coach Josep Guardiola this season. This has led to reports suggesting that the Ivory Coast international and brother of the Arsenal defender Kolo Toure could move to Juventus as early as January 2009; Juve manager Claudio Ranieri is supposedly keen on midfielder reinforcements after a somewhat indifferent start to the season both in the Italian Serie A and in the UEFA Champions League.

Alonso’s name cropped up last week as the Euro 2008 winner is seeminly frustrated at Anfield where he is not guaranteed a starting berth week in and week out. The former Real Sociedad midfielder has refused to rule out any future move away from Anfield but insists that he is actually quite happy at Liverpool.

Alonso said:

“I am content at Liverpool and I have still not decided on a concrete date for my return to Primera Liga.”