It is getting a bit silly...It's a case of ego's clashing now.

O'Neill won't back down from his asking price, yet Rafa is probably being constrained by the Liverpool board, but these days is £1-2million all that much to bicker about?

As soon as Alonso's deal to Juventus is finalised, then the funds will be available to offer £18m, with the ever-shrewd Harry Redknapp possibly holding out until the last minute for an offer for Peter Crouch, waiting until desperation sets in and prices drop maybe??