Benitez must battle to keep ‘influential’ Alonso, insists Mascherano

JAVIER MASCHERANO has urged Liverpool to do all they can to keep the “influential” Xabi Alonso.

As Reds boss Rafael Benitez ponders the future of fringe players such as Sebastian Leto and Andriy Voronin, it is the destiny of Alonso that will concern supporters with the prospect of a bid from Real Madrid.

Benitez needs to sell squad players to raise money for his summer transfer targets – rumoured to include Carlos Tevez, Gareth Barry and David Silva – having been promised only £20million from the club’s American owners.