TRANSFER: Liverpool insist on Suarez fee

Liverpool are holding out for a fee of around
£80m for Luis Suarez, according to Sky
sources, as talks with Barcelona continued on
Thursday.
The fee remains the sticking point, with
Barcelona reportedly wanting to pay in the
region of £60m for the striker.
On Wednesday evening a Liverpool source
confirmed: “The talks held today were
productive, there are sensible expectations on
both sides. Further talks and discussions are
to take place, but nothing is finalised as of
now."
Sky Sports News reporter Vinny O'Connor also
confirmed that the future of Barcelona forward
Alexis Sanchez was on the agenda, but it will
have no impact on any Suarez deal.
It is not yet clear what the Chilean star wants
to do himself, and Sky sources say any deal
for Sanchez will be separate from the Suarez
negotiations.
Suarez is currently serving a four-month ban
for biting Italy's Giorgio Chiellini at the World
Cup.
Following the 27-year-old's apology - which
Barca reportedly had a major influence in
procuring - the Primera Liga side have
stepped up their pursuit and a deal now seems
likely to be agreed.
At a press conference on Wednesday,
Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu
would not be drawn on the talks.
But he did he made a point of commending
Suarez for apologising and confirmed they are
in the market for a striker, as well as two new
centre-backs.
"I announced months ago that the team would
undergo a deep renovation but we cannot
reveal details because we don't want to give
clues away to any of our rivals," Bartomeu
said.
"Our representatives are constantly travelling
to other countries because of potential
signings.
"We have the names and the players, but
sometimes there are clubs who speculate over
possible signings by Barca to manipulate the
price.
"All I can say is that they are names that have
been agreed with (new coach) Luis Enrique
and they excite us.
"For example, (sporting director Andoni)
Zubizarreta already has the names of the
centre backs although they are not signed yet
as there are clubs who think their value will
go up after the World Cup."
Asked about Suarez, Bartomeu said: "Suarez
is a Liverpool player so I can't talk about him,
he belongs to another team, a rival team. But
we are all football men, and saying sorry is
honourable, it helps the competition.
"He did something that wasn't right, so it's the
responsibility of everyone in football, be it
Liverpool or anywhere else, to remember that
he has said sorry. Admitting you have done
something wrong is very important.
"Luis has apologised and that is honourable,
he's taken a step towards rehabilitating, the
football world should support him and help
him. As a football fan I hope he can turn a
corner."
Sky Sports' Spanish football pundit Guillem
Balague believes Suarez had to apologise in
order to secure his dream move to Barcelona.
"Barcelona wanted Luis Suarez to apologise,"
he said. "It is also part of an appeal that will
surely reduce his ban.
"I realise many people feel cheated as he has
apologised before. Biting shouldn't be done
but can be corrected and Chiellini has
accepted the apology, so who are we not to do
the same?"