Liverpool are reportedly ready to 'intensify' their efforts to sign David Silva from Valencia.
Rafa Benitez is said to have been encouraged by the Spaniards' apparently successful retention of David Villa, believing this will have enhanced his negotiating position in bidding for Silva. The proposed swap deal of Zlatan Ibrahimovic for Samuel Eto'o would seemingly indicates that Villa will not, as expected, be moving to the Nou Camp.
'Valencia, a club in severe financial crisis, may be forced to reduce their initial £25m demand for Silva, which put Benitez off in May and the manager will be able to offer the entire amount up front if Real Madrid adhere to his own demands that their £30m-plus outlay on Xabi Alonso comes in one upfront payment, as did their £80m to Manchester United for Cristiano Ronaldo,' reports The Independent.
The newspaper also says that, with regards to the sale of Alonso, 'Benitez is also holding out for a Madrid player to be included in the deal, with striker Alvaro Negredo still a possibility. If Real agree to include Negredo then the defender Alvaro Arbeloa would be likely to join Alonso in moving to the Bernabeu. Silva is reluctant to switch to England but will make an exception for Liverpool where he would be joining Spain team-mates Pepe Reina and Fernando Torres.'