“If Steven Gerrard is the heart of Liverpool then Xabi Alonso was one of the lungs. So Liverpool just lost a lung. It’s lung-wrenching. I know they have a potential organ donor lined up (AS Roma) and that a new lung (Alberto Aquilani) could be on the way already, but what if the operation doesn’t take? They won’t know until the season gets going.” (EPL Talk)

Liverpool agree fee for Aquilani
“Liverpool have confirmed they have agreed a fee with Roma for Italian midfielder Alberto Aquilani. The transfer is reported to be worth £20m and is subject to a medical being completed later in the week. ‘Alberto has a winning mentality and great experience in both Serie A and the Champions League,’ said Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez.” (BBC)

Alonso saga? Done
“Another morning, another celebration in soccernet towers that we can put another drawn out transfer saga to bed. The Telegraph pitch it right by declaring we can all ‘move on’ now Xabi Alonso is about to become a Real Madrid player, for the princely sum of £30m.” (ESPN)