Almost chucking out time at The Transfer Tavern, when someone from Spanish paper MARCA tells us, that should Xabi Alonso’s proposed move to the Bernabeu fail to materlise, Real Madrid have another high-profile target to join their ‘Galacticos’ army in Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas.

It said Real’s sporting director Jorge Valdano has insisted that they are still confident of signing the Liverpool midfielder, despite refusing to meet the reported €47m valuation by the Reds, however enquiries were made earlier this week to AS Roma in a bid to secure the services of Daniele de Rossi as a cheaper
alternative.

The former Barcelona midfielder has previously been subject of a return to the Nou Camp but with the European champions eyeing a move for Liverpool’s Javier Mascherano, Los Blancos are expected to table a bid which, with add-ons, could be worth something in the region of €50m.

According to MARCA, Real president Florentino Perez sees Fabregas as the ideal candidate to dominate Madrid’s midfield should first-choice target Alonso fail to secure a move to the Spanish capital.

So what sort of refreshment and exactly how many caused MARCA to write this one? Is the Gunners skipper really being lined up as an alternative to Alonso? Should this rumour Fly or Die?