Barcelona In Advance Talks with Liverpool over Suarez
By Opeyemi Oladunjoye
Luis Suarez is close to sealing a desired move to Barcelona after the Catalan club held a “productive” first meeting with Liverpool and offered around £70m for the controversial forward.
Barcelona’s determination to clinch a deal for the Uruguayan was confirmed in a meeting between the spanish club’s director of football management, Raul Sanllehi, and Liverpool’s chief executive, Ian Ayre, in London on Wednesday.
Barcelona’s opening bid was £70m for the player who’s banned for four months for biting Italy defender, Giorgio Chiellini, at the World Cup. The fee falls short of Liverpool’s initial £80m valuation, and has not been accepted, but both sides are convinced a deal can be done after their face-to-face negotiations over the 27-year-old.
Barcelona are believed to be willing to pay for Suárez or to include Alexis Sánchez as a part of the deal, as Liverpool has requested.
The Chilean has however, given no indication he wants to move to Anfield and Suárez’s transfer is unlikely to be concluded until the winger has decided whether to join Liverpool, another European club or to stay at Camp Nou.
A second round of talks has not been scheduled but negotiations will continue, as Liverpool is close to getting their asking price for Suárez after cordial and constructive talks with the delegation from Barcelona.
Suárez signed a contract extension with a release clause until 2018 worth £200,000 a week with Liverpool in December. Due to his latest ban, the striker would be suspended from the first 13 matches of Liverpool’s season and Barcelona has accepted that condition.
