Real Madrid fear being priced out of any move for Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard. Real have been in regular contact with Gerrard's agent Struan Marshall since the end of last season.

A club insider told AS: If Xabi Alonso was signed for €35 million .... It should be a galactic-like price Kaka or Cristiano Ronaldo, but for now we do not have anything because he is not for sale."

Indeed, any move away from Liverpool for Gerrard will not be determined until after England's World Cup campaign is over.