Real Madrid step up bid for Liverpool's Xabi, Arbeloa

Real Madrid have stepped up a bid for Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso.

The Daily Mail says Real are convinced they will land Xabi for £30 million.

The move comes just hours after Liverpool agreed a £17m deal for Portsmouth full-back Glen Johnson ahead of competition from Chelsea. And that will signal the £8million departure of Alvaro Arbeloa to Real Madrid too.

Real's pursuit of Alonso has been dogged. They made an approach for the Spain midfielder last month and tabled a £20m offer but Liverpool were reluctant to sell.

Yet, despite his new Galacticos era, Florentino Perez has been put under pressure by fans to bring in Spanish players and Alonso and Arbeloa will go a long way to appease them.