Reds star targeted by Barca Boss

Xabi Alonso has joined Arsenal’s Alexander Hleb at the top of Barcelona’s summer shopping-list, with the Catalan giants ready to tempt Rafael Benitez with a £14million offer for the midfield-wizard, who has appeared to have been dropped down the pecking-order for a starting slot in the centre of the park behind Javier Mascherano (who looks very likely to remain at Anfield in a £17million deal) and Brazil Under-20 captain Lucas Leiva.

A Barcelona source told The Telegraph: “Xabi would be a welcome acquisition to the squad, although we are looking at a number of players, most of which are from the [English] Premier League, but no signings will be made until the summer.”

Earlier in the month, Barcelona officials publicly declared the club’s interest in signing Arsenal’s Hleb, but as of yet, no concrete deals have been made, which is making a move for our Spanish midfielder even more likely come the end of the season.

“Hleb is an interesting player who we have watched many times. But any new signings will be for the end of the season.” a Barcelona official told The Daily Mail.