xabi Alonso will not be re-signing for Liverpool in the summer according to reports from Spain.

The 31-year-old - whose contract with Real Madrid expires at the end of the season - has been widely linked with a move back to Anfield.

Brendan Rodgers was thought to be keen on the cultured midfielder and the Reds were expected to make a bid of £3million during the January transfer window.

But according to Spanish journalist Pipi Estrada, Alonso will not be returning to England, nor moving to Italy, where Juventus are also monitoring the situation.

Estrada was quoted in Punto Pelota as saying: "Xabi Alonso believes his Real Madrid cycle has finished and wants, with his family [to be] playing in a new league, in another country and experience another culture.

"There is talk that he could go to England, France or Italy but his destination is in another continent. Alonso wants to play in the U.S.”

The news will come as a blow to Rodgers who was given special permission by the club's hierarchy to approach Los Blancos.

Liverpool's transfer policy stipulates that only players below the age of 30 are signed as they are likely to have greater sell-on value and Alonso is 32 next month.

However, this appears irrelevant now with the New York Red Bulls and L.A. Galaxy said to be the frontrunners in the race to acquire the World Cup winner's signature.