Spurs line up Finnan as Reds sign Xabi

Alonso has been Liverpool's main summer target since impressing the watching Benitez in Sociedad's 2-2 draw with Everton at Goodison Park a week last Saturday.

Benitez briefly feared Real Madrid might hijack the transfer after Arsenal skipper Patrick Vieira turned down a move to the Bernabeu, but the 22-year-old was on the brink of becoming a Liverpool player after his agent Inaki Ibanez held further talks with Anfield officials at the weekend.

'Alonso to Liverpool is practically done,' said Ibanez. 'There are now only small details between the clubs.'

Sociedad boss Jose Mari Amorrortu also confirmed that Alonso was on his way, saying: 'I have believed since last Wednesday that he will not be with us and I'm thinking about alternatives.'

Alonso, who speaks perfect English, will arrive on Merseyside after Spain's friendly with Venezuela tomorrow and will cost Liverpool £8m up front, followed by £2.5m in staged payments.

His arrival will not only further bolster Liverpool's Spanish contingent, after Josemi joined from Malaga for £2m and Real Madrid's right-sided midfielder Antonio Nunez became the makeweight in Michael Owen's departure for the Bernabeu, but also cast doubt over the future of Hamann.

With little sign of interest from other Premiership clubs, or even in his native Germany, the former Newcastle and Bayern Munich midfielder looks destined for a role on the fringes of Benitez's squad.

Liverpool are bracing themselves for changes at board level, too, as wealthy property magnate Steve Morgan prepares to mount another bid for power, as exclusively revealed in Sportsmail last week.