**Liverpool have agreed a fee with Real Madrid to sell right-back Alvaro Arbeloa to the Spanish club.**The move is subject to a medical and worth about £3.5m to the Reds, who signed the 26-year-old for £2.6m from Deportivo La Coruna in January 2007.
Spain international Arbeloa had one year left on his Anfield deal so could have left for free next summer.
Defender Glen Johnson’s June arrival from Portsmouth paved the way for Reds manager Rafael Benitez to sell Arbeloa.
Switzerland international Philipp Degen is fit again after rib and lung injuries so is another option for Benitez at right-back, while Jamie Carragher can also play in that position.
Arbeloa, who began his career at the Bernabeu, scored two goals in 99 games for Liverpool and speculation had suggested he could join Real in a joint deal that would result in Xabi Alonso also leaving the Merseysiders.
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However, a question mark over midfielder Alonso’s future still remains as the club’s players enjoy a three-day break before returning on Thursday.
Benitez has spoken to Alonso and urged him to stay at Anfield.
“I talked to Xabi and told him, as he can see here, that the fans love him and said to him 'Maybe you have to stay,” said Benitez recently.
“You can see he is a really good player and I’ll be really pleased if he stays. All the players and his team-mates want him to stay. If we keep Xabi I will be very pleased.”
Liverpool striker Fernando Torres is also keen for his Spanish international team-mate to stay at Anfield.
“It would be a bad piece of work if Xabi left - he plays his cards close to his chest so I don’t know what is going to happen,” Torres told The Sun.
"I’d put Xabi’s own wishes ahead of everything else, of course, but he’s got three years left on his contract with us and I’d love it if he stays.
“It would be a serious loss for Liverpool if he left this summer.”