Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso has set a deadline for his agent to complete his transfer to Real Madrid.

According to the Daily Mail, Alonso told his agent to cement his move to the Spanish giants by July 19. If the deadline is not met, then he will stay at Anfield.

The British paper reported that the midfielder met his agent immediately after flying back to Madrid after his Confederations Cup duty in South Africa.

It was at this meeting that Alonso is said to have set a deadline with his agent Inaki Ibanez.

July 19 is the date on which he is scheduled to return to Anfield for pre-season training - for his proposed move to Real.

He is quoted as saying to Spanish newspaper AS: "I don't know what will happen. The clubs now have to negotiate."

According to the Mail, Real will launch a monster £55million bid to sign Alonso, Javier Mascherano and Alvaro Arbeloa. But they are also willing to negotiate players separately as Liverpool are unlikely to even contemplate losing both Alonso and Mascherano.

In a bid to scare off suitors, Benitez has quoted a price-tag of £50 million for Alonso, but sources in Spain say the actual valuation coming out of Merseyside is £35 million.