Barcelona officials were to meet their Liverpool counterparts in London yesterday to open negotiations on a possible deal for disgraced Anfield striker Luis Suarez, British media reported.
Barcelona appear to be leading the race among clubs linked with the 27-year-old Uruguayan, who was expelled from the FIFA World Cup and handed a nine-match competitive international ban as well as a four-month sanction from any soccer activity for biting Italy’s Giorgio Chiellini in a group match.
Merseyside club officials and a delegation led by Barcelona soccer management director Raul Sanllehi are to meet to discuss the future of last season’s Premier League top scorer, the reports said.
Photo: AFP
To prise Suarez away from Liverpool, the Catalan club will either need to meet his release clause, reportedly about US$118 million to US$134 million, in his contract, or offer a player-plus-cash deal.
Should the Merseysiders opt for the latter, Barcelona’s Chilean striker Alexis Sanchez — a Liverpool target in the past — appears to be the Anfield side’s preferred choice as Suarez’s replacement.
After initially denying that he bit Chiellini in Uruguay’s 1-0 win in Natal, Brazil, on June 24, Suarez issued a carefully worded statement on Monday, admitting his offense and vowing to never do it again.
Photo: Reuters
Barca sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta stoked rumors of a possible move for Suarez to the Catalan club on Tuesday by praising him his “humility” in admitting his mistake.
Spanish media have reported that after the bite, Barca were still prepared to Suarez on the condition that he apologize.
“Suarez has had the character and the humility to acknowledge his mistake. That is important,” Zubizarreta told a news conference.
The conference was held to present Croatia midfielder Ivan Rakitic, after the Catalan side bought him from Sevilla on a five-year contract and Zubizarreta took the opportunity to dispel talk of the club selling Spain striker Pedro Rodriguez.
“Pedro is not transferable,” he said, but added that Barca will consider bids for Chile forward Alexis Sanchez, who scored twice in his nation’s World Cup campaign.
“In Alexis’ case, there have been movements in the market and there have been proposals,” he said. “We will seek a solution and if it is good for him and for us, we will analyze it.”
In other transfer news, Chelsea have signed Spain striker Diego Costa from Atletico Madrid, they said in a statement on Tuesday.
The transfer fee amount was not disclosed, but the 25-year-old Brazil-born player’s buyout clause at Atletico was about 40 million euros (US$54.56 million).
Costa becomes Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho’s second major capture of the close-season, following the signing of FIFA World Cup teammate Cesc Fabregas from Barcelona last month.
Earlier on Tuesday, the club announced that Cameroon striker Samuel Eto’o had left the 2012 European champions after one season.
Costa joins another Spain teammate, Fernando Torres, and Senegal struker Demba Ba as Mourinho’s forward options next season.
Atletico’s success this season, they won La Liga and reached the Champions League final before losing to Real Madrid, was in large part due to Costa’s goals.
He raised hackles when he accepted an invitation to play for world and European champions Spain, but it may have been a lucky escape for Brazil as he was a disappointment at the World Cup.
In what may be a consolation if Suarez jumps ship, Liverpool signed England midfielder Adam Lallana from Southampton on a long-term deal on Tuesday, reuniting the 26-year-old with former club mate Rickie Lambert.
No transfer fee was revealed, but British media estimate Liverpool paid about ￡25 million (US$42.54 million) for Lallana, part of the England team who, like Spain, crashed out of the World Cup.
“I’m over the moon for it to be sorted,” Lallana told the club Web site after passing a medical at Melwood. “I still can’t quite believe it.”
Also in the Premier League, Newcastle United on Tuesday signed a six-year contract with Netherlands and Ajax midfielder Siem de Jong.
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