RAFAEL BENITEZ will hold talks with Xabi Alonso tomorrow aimed at finally resolving the ongoing saga of his prospective transfer to Real Madrid.

Alonso was photographed at Madrid airport earlier this week, prompting speculation he was in Spain for talks with Real.

But the midfielder is instead on a short vacation in his home town of San Sebastian to be reunited with his family after returning from the tour to the Far East.

Alonso returns to Melwood tomorrow and will head for the Anfield manager’s office to discuss his future.

The 27-year-old has not made any formal transfer request, but has previously informed Benitez he would consider a move to the Bernabeu.

Real president Florentino Perez slammed Liverpool on Monday when he said their £30million valuation of Alonso did not “correspond to reality”.

Real have so far shown no inclination to increase their proposed opening gambit of £24m, leading to a protracted game of chess between the two parties.

Sources close to Alonso have suggested reports of a 48-hour deadline set by Benitez to broker any deal are thought to be wide of the mark.

But the Liverpool manager is keen for the situation to be resolved one way or another with the Premier League season due to begin in less than three weeks.

Should Alonso make public a desire to leave Anfield, it would force Real’s hand and serious negotiations would take place over the fee of the player.

Otherwise, Liverpool are likely to ask Real to desist from tracking the Spain international and suggest Alonso openly pledges his future to Benitez’s team.