Luis Suarez’s move from Liverpool to Barcelona looks set to be a cash-only deal, despite both clubs keen to have Chilean striker Alexis Sanchez as part of the deal.
Spanish journalists claimed on Thursday night that a €90 million (£71.4 million) deal for Suarez had been agreed between the Reds and the Catalan giants.
Nos cuenta @jrdelamorena que el Barça ya tiene un acuerdo con el Liverpool para el traspaso de L.Suárez por 90 millones de euros.
— EL LARGUERO (@ellarguero) July 3, 2014
Liverpool had hoped to secure the services of Sanchez, who scored 19 goals in La Liga last season, as Suarez’s direct replacement, plus cash, but Sanchez is keen on a move to Arsenal, according to The Telegraph.
Jeremy Wilson and Chris Bascombe report in Friday’s edition:
Arsenal are understood to have a deal agreed in principle with Sánchez. Although Barcelona are eager for him to move to Liverpool to speed up the Suárez negotiations, there is no guarantee Sánchez will agree to such a switch as he considers his options.
Sánchez could be trying to play Liverpool and Arsenal off against one another but, as of Thursday night, the sense in Spain was still that he favours a move to London.
Barcelona‘s sale of Sanchez to Arsenal may well be the key to finalising their move for Suarez, raising some of the £71 million being reported.
Sky Sports reported on Friday morning that Suarez’s switch to the Camp Nou could even be completed by the end of the weekend.
Suarez is currently banned from world football for the best part of four months after biting Italy’s Giorgio Chiellini during Uruguay’s World Cup group stage defeat of Italy last Tuesday.
Although Fifa initially said the ban extended to all aspects of football, they have now partially backtracked, allowing him to train during the suspension.
After completing the signings of Rickie Lambert, Adam Lallana and Emre Can early in the summer transfer window, Liverpool may be looking for a swift resolution in regards to Suarez in order to prepare for the forthcoming 2014/15 season.
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