Re: Suarez paves the way for Anfield switch as Babel nears the exit door
Damien Comolli sent to seal a deal for Suárez
Tony Barrett
1 minute ago
Liverpool’s determination to make a marquee signing during the January transfer window will see Damien Comolli dispatched to Amsterdam for talks with Ajax over a deal for Luis Suárez.
Liverpool’s interest in the Uruguay forward has been thwarted by Ajax’s £21 million valuation of a player who turns 24 today. Comolli, Liverpool’s director of football strategy, is not willing to pay more than £18 million in a deal that would also see Ryan Babel, the Liverpool forward, return to his former club as a makeweight, and will attempt to compromise.
The outcome of the talks is likely to hinge on Ajax’s determination to hold on to a player who has spoken publicly of his desire to move to England, with Liverpool his preferred destination.
“When I see the way that [Carlos] Tévez plays there I think I can be a big name in England,†Suárez said.
Frank De Boer, the Ajax coach, is not keen to sanction the sale after agreeing with Rick van den Boog, the club’s managing director, that it will not proceed unless financial requirements are satisfied and a replacement lined up.
“We won’t let Luis go on 31st January at 23.55pm,†De Boer said. “It is logical and a deal that I have made with Rick van den Boog. To replace Suárez will be difficult but we are ready to have a plan B, we know what we want if he leaves.â€
It is understood that Ajax have identified Bas Dost, the Heerenveen forward, as a potential replacement.
Fenway Sports Group (FSG), Liverpool’s owner, is prepared to fund a recruitment drive, but its determination has been met only with resistance from rival clubs with Blackpool adopting a similar stance to Ajax by pricing Charlie Adam, the midfield player, at a higher level than Liverpool are ready to pay.
Liverpool had a £4million bid for the Blackpool captain rejected on Friday and Ian Holloway, the Blackpool manager, has again made it clear that Adam will not be sold this month unless they return with a “drastically†improved offer. Liverpool will make a second bid of £5 million but that also seems likely to be turned down.
“I do not care if mighty Liverpool have made a bid for my best player Charlie Adam,†Holloway. “If they don’t improve it drastically or put a ‘1’ in front of it, they can go and whistle. They have offered £4 million, which is a disgrace. We’ve had three bids for him so far, from clubs that are round and about us in the league, but I’d suggest that rather than waste my time, or try and unsettle my club, they offer me a real amount of money.
“Life is about timing and this isn’t the right time. He will stay with us because the figures being bandied around are insulting. We will get £46 million if we stay up so why get rid of Charlie now for a good deal less than that?â€
http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/sport/football/clubs/liverpool/article2885429.ece
