Xabi Alonso _300

XABI ALONSO will have to go public in his bid to quit Liverpool as Rafael Benitez prepares to play hardball with Real Madrid over the midfielder’s future.

Alonso has informed the Anfield manager of his desire to move to the Bernabeu, but significantly stopped short of submitting a formal transfer request.

Liverpool have previously warned Real off making a bid for the 27-year-old, who still has three years of his contract left to run.

But Alonso may be compelled to force the issue by handing in an official transfer request, although the Spanish midfielder is reluctant to do so and remains hopeful his future can be resolved without such measures.

Nevertheless, Real and Liverpool appear way off an agreement in their valuation of the Spain international.

Having already seen Real splash out exorbitant amounts on capturing Cristiano Ronaldo and Kaka this summer, Liverpool refuse to be short-changed over a player who has been courted by the Bernabeu outfit for months.

Real do not want to spend more than £27million but Benitez is adamant the La Liga side cough up somewhere in the region of £35m.