BARELY a day goes by without Real Madrid being linked with one player or another.
Having hoovered up a couple of Juventus escapees, the Bernabeu's new supremo, Fabio Capello, is now making noises about Liverpool playmaker Xabi Alonso.
As the Spain midfielder has been Benitez's best buy, you can understand the interest, and the concern expressed by Liverpool supporters.
The good news for them is that Alonso is happy at Anfield, according to the player himself and his agent.
Rafael Benitez sees the midfielder as key to a season where catching Chelsea - if at all possible - will demand the equivalent of two teams, rather than one.
In any case, Real are renowned for being linked with outstanding talent though probably less than a quarter of their alleged targets find their way to the famous Madrid stadium.
Next week they'll probably be courting Steven Gerrard in the same way that they tried and failed to tempt Rafael Benitez.
Next rumour . . .
Villa's just a burden
A DAY after I described David O'Leary as a liability, he became the ex-manager of Aston Villa.
That would be good news were it not for the fact that O'Leary gone at the right time and not with the new season about to blow Villa away.
Martin O'Neill is rumoured to be owner Doug Ellis's preferred choice but why should O Neill saddle himself with Villa after previously rejecting tastier dishes than the burnt offerings caused by years of neglect?
There will be takers because soccer management calls for a certain amount of insanity, but suspect it won't be a candidate favoured by despairing Holt-Enders.
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