Real Madrid would substantially strengthen their midfield if they succeed in signing Liverpool’s Xabi Alonso (pictured), as the Spaniard’s FTBL rating indicates.

With a tally of 142.76 points at the moment, Alonso would rank second only to Brazilian superstar Kaká (167.14 points), far ahead of Dutch internationals Wesley Sneijder (88.14 points) and Rafael van der Vaart (74.69 points), as well as Argentine international Gonzalo Higuain (74.29 points).

Even though Kaka would predictably beat Alonso on most indicators, the Spaniard would have a better +/- index than the Brazilian (62 against 48).