Barca Close In On Luis Suarez After Making €88m Bid During ‘Productive’ Talks

The summer transfer window is now open for business and it’s expected to be a busy few weeks as managers strengthen their squads ahead of next season, so we’ll bring you all the latest news and gossip. Today, Barcelona close in on Suarez.

Barcelona are closing in on the signing of Luis Suarez after tabling an opening bid of €88m (£70m) during ‘productive’ discussions with Liverpool on Wednesday, according to reports.

As has been reported in various media outlets, Barcelona’s director of football Raul Sanllehi flew in to London yesterday and met Liverpool’s chief executive Ian Ayre to open formal talks over the signature of Suarez.

There has been speculation that the Catalans may try and drive the price down following the strikers latest act of cannibalism with his bite on Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini at the World Cup.

However, the Guardian claim that Sanllehi’s opening offer was around €88m (£70m), and although it was rejected as it falls short of Liverpool’s €100m (£80m) valuation, it’s a sure sign that the Spaniard’s are realistic about the kind of fee they are going to have to pay.

A ‘source’ has told the newspaper that the talks were ‘productive’ and although nothing is finalised yet, there were ‘sensible expectations’ on both sides:

“The talks were productive. There were sensible expectations on both sides and there will be further discussions to take place. But nothing is finalised as of now.” a source told the Guardian

The newspaper suggests that further talks are scheduled for the comes days and both clubs are now ‘convinced’ a deal will be agreed for the 27-year-old, with Barca willing to pay the entire sum in cash or try and include Alexis Sanchez in the deal.

This is where the deal could get complicated though. The Chilean has a number of offers on the table, most notably from Arsenal, and the Guardian state that he has given no indication he wants to move to Anfield, so the Suarez deal is likely to be put on hold until Sanchez decides where his future lies.

Whatever the outcome with Sanchez, it does look inevitable that Suarez will be off to the Nou Camp this summer and it’s sure to leave a bitter taste in the mouths at Anfield after they’ve stuck by him during several indiscretions since his move from Ajax three years ago.

However, the silver lining of any sale is that manager Brendan Rodgers will be handed a sizeable transfer kitty to replace the controversial Uruguayan, as well as have plenty left over to further strengthen other areas of his squad.

READ MORE –> Liverpool transfer news

Rodgers has already signed Rickie Lambert, Emre Can and Adam Lallana this summer, but he’s also eyeing moves for young Belgian striker Divock Origi and Serbian winger Lazar Markovic, while the Northern Irishman is also expected to add to his defensive options with the likes of Dejan Lovren, Ryan Bertrand and Alberto Moreno all linked.