Contrary to internet reports yesterday, Liverpool's principal owner John W Henry did not meet the player's agent, Pere Guardiola, at London's San Carlo restaurant on Tuesday night. Henry was in Liverpool for the evening. There has still been no official bid for Suarez but he would also bring more aggression to the side.
Though Suarez is understood to be keen to leave Amsterdam and attracted by the contingent of Spanish speakers who would help his acclimatisation on Merseyside, Ajax have proved inflexible on price so far. Liverpool are offering ¤15m (£12.5m), Ajax want ¤25m (£20.9m) minimum. Ryan Babel, who will move to Hoffenheim in a £5.8m deal unless a club more attractive to the 24-year-old comes in with a bid for him, was initially offered to the Amsterdam club from whom he was signed as part of the deal, but they were not interested.
Ajax want only to maximise their financial return. They need the money but they believe they can win the Eredivisie – they are currently fourth, six points off PSV Eindhoven with a game in hand – which is why they appear to be ready to play hardball.
Ajax may also take into consideration Suarez's mindset. A combustible individual – he was banned by the Dutch FA in November for seven games for biting an opponent on the shoulder – Suarez is said to be angered by the Dutch club's refusal to sell him. He was also frustrated last summer when a sizeable bid was tabled, which Martin Jol blocked – the then manager threatened to leave if Suarez went.
Manchester United had an initial interest in the player, whose performances in Uruguay's run to the World Cup semi-finals underlined his potential. During negotiations for a contract extension, Suarez pushed for Ajax to sign his friend and fellow Uruguayan Nicolas Lodeiro. They did so, which shows how much they value him. Lodeiro has barely played. Suarez is out of contract in June 2012 so they need to sell him by this summer. Tottenham had been interested in Suarez, though Harry Redknapp was understood to have harboured some doubts about his technical merits and has pulled out of the race for his signature. As a consequence, Spurs are now pursuing Giuseppe Rossi of Villarreal.
