Deal between Arbeloa and Real Madrid

MADRID: Liverpool''s Spanish international Alvaro Arbeloa said Tuesday that a deal which would see him return to Real Madrid could be completed by the end of the week.

"At present I am only focused on Liverpool but it is true that the transfer deal is nearly completed," the 26-year-old full-back said in an interview published in sports daily Marca.

"We will see what will happen in the next few days, if we can all make an effort so that the operation takes place and be something good for everyone, which is what we all want. It could all be sorted out this week."

Rival sports daily AS said the transfer deal will be worth four million euros (5.7 million dollars).

Last week Real''s managing director said the club''s lavish recruitment drive, which has seen over 200 million euros spent on big-names such as Kaka and Cristiano Ronaldo, would stop until players departed to create vacancies.

Arbeloa, part of the Spain squad which won Euro 2008, joined Liverpool from Deportivo La Coruna in January 2007.

He signed for Deportivo from Real in 2006, having failed to make an impact in his first spell at the Spanish giants when he played for its youth team.