Liverpool move looks imminent for Alonso

LIVERPOOL'S revolving transfer door seems destined to keep spinning as Xabi Alonso was pulled out of a friendly last night.

A move to Anfield appears imminent for the number one target of new Anfield boss Rafael Benitez, with the wheeling and dealing likely to continue.

Speculation over the future of Michael Owen is still rife, while Bolton have officially confirmed their interest in El-Hadji Diouf.

Danny Murphy became the 12th player to leave Anfield this summer when he joined Charlton - and there is now the prospect of striker Samuel Eto'o moving to Liverpool if Owen heads in the opposite direction to Real Madrid.

Owen was left on the substitutes' bench for Tuesday night's Champions League qualifier in Graz to seemingly save him getting cup-tied in UEFA competitions this season - with the prospect of a move to Real before the transfer deadline a very real one.

Benitez insisted the decision was purely a football one, but there were Spanish TV crews awaiting Owen's return to Liverpool airport, where he was whisked away with his colleagues to an awaiting coach to avoid the media scrum.

Liverpool have declined to comment on any of the possible deals, while chief executive Rick Parry returned early from Austria - where the club's third biggest shareholder Steve Morgan visited the team hotel, fuelling more talk of a major financial input from the millionaire former building tycoon.

However, Morgan has been in continual talks with the Liverpool board over potential investment for several months, despite two previous failed bids, and the club are again playing down suggestions of a major power shift.

The most likely outcome of the week's transfer activity could be the signing soon of Real Sociedad's midfielder Xabi for a fee of around £11m. Significantly, he was withdrawn yesterday from the Basque club's friendly with Osasuna by coach Jose Maria Amorrorto to avoid injury.

If Owen ends up in Spain, Liverpool, it seems, could get Eto'o as part of an exchange deal worth £20m. Eto'o has been on loan to Mallorca and is also wanted by Barcelona, but Madrid are believed to want to use him in any deal for Owen.

But with their swoop for Patrick Vieira seemingly closer, any deal for Owen may have to wait until after the weekend.

Meanwhile, Diouf could be the next man heading out the Anfield exit door after being told he has no future at the club by Benitez.

Bolton boss Sam Allardyce has confirmed his interest as he said: "A club like ours can provide him with the opportunity and the service to show his talents more than at Liverpool.

"There is genuine pace with Diouf. In any game in the Premiership, and in particular in the front line, you have to have that.

"We have quick players, but if you can find quicker players then so much the better."