Liverpool hope to complete the signing of Real Sociedad midfielder Xabi Alonso by the weekend, manager Rafael Benitez has confirmed, but the announcement was overshadowed by the news that fellow Spaniard Antonio Nunez was injured in his first training session.
“We hope to finish our conversations about signing Alonso this week,” Benitez said at a news conference.
Nunez after he twisted his left knee in training and has suspected ligament damage.
The former Real Madrid midfielder, signed on Tuesday as part of the deal that took striker Michael Owen to the Bernabeu, was expected to play for the reserves on Wednesday and feature against Manchester City in the Premier League on Saturday.
“We are all desperately disappointed for Antonio because this injury has come at such a bad time for him and he is understandably gutted,” Liverpool spokesman Ian Cotton told the club’s website.
“We will know more about his injury on Thursday afternoon.”
The 25-year-old was injured in training and will have a scan on Thursday but the club suspects ligament damage.
