The interminable saga surrounding Liverpool's Xabi Alonso has ended as the two clubs finally thrashed out a deal that will see the Spanish midfielder switch Anfield for Bernabeu. Alonso, is expected to arrive in Madrid on August 5 and undergo a medical check, following which the formalities around his new contract will be sorted out.

English media cannot agree on the transfer fee, however. According to the BBC, Real Madrid signed the player for in the region of 30 million pounds sterling but Liverpool said the terms of the deal "would remain confidential".

According to the Times of London, however,  Real Madrid's persistent flirtations with Xabi Alonso will cost them as much as 35 million pounds sterling and the 27-year-old, has agreed a four-year contract worth 80 000 a week.

The 27-year-old joined Liverpool from Real Sociedad in August 2004.

The Spanish giants have confirmed the arrival of Xabi Alonso in their Galacticos II Project with a statement on the club's website, saying  "Alonso will arrive in Madrid on Wednesday to undergo the required medical".

With the arrival of the instrumental Liverpool midfielder to Real, Alonso will become the second Liverpool player to join the Spanish giants after full-back Alvaro Arbeloa's switch to the Bernabeu last week.

The news will be received with controversy at Anfield. Xabi had two lacklustre seasons prior to last season, prompting Rafael Benitez to try and offload him last summer but there were no interested bidders, at least not for the price demanded. Now, Alonso's impending departure has come at the back of a tremendous season for him in the red shirt, which will be seen as a major setback for Liverpool supporters, who voted the Spaniard second to Steven Gerrard in man of the match awards last year. Still, if invested carefully, 30 or 35 million pounds, whatever the actual figure is, should be enough to find a suitable replacement.