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Liverpool close to selling Suarez

Mike Whalley | ESPN FC
July 5, 2014
Where would Sanchez fit at Liverpool?

Barcelona have the framework of a deal in place to buy Luis Suarez - but Liverpool are waiting to see if Alexis Sanchez will move to Anfield before signing off the sale.

Sources have told ESPN FC that the La Liga giants are prepared to meet the release clause in Suarez's contract, which is reported to be between £70-80 million.

Liverpool are interested in signing Sanchez in part-exchange, a deal that Barcelona are prepared to sanction. However, even if Sanchez, who has been heavily linked with a move to Arsenal, decides to stay at the Nou Camp or move elsewhere, Liverpool are prepared to sell Suarez.

Liverpool right to sell Suarez, says Owen

Luis Suarez is banned for four months © Getty Images
  • Liverpool would be right to sell Luis Suarez if they can get more than £70 million for him - he is not irreplaceable, says the club's former striker Michael Owen.
  • Owen believes Suarez would struggle to rebuild his reputation following the latest biting scandal surrounding the player.
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Manager Brendan Rodgers is an admirer of Sanchez, who helped Chile reach the knockout stage of the World Cup, and Liverpool are prepared to give the winger time to decide whether he wants to come to Anfield, meaning that a deal for Suarez is unlikely to be completed until next week at the earliest.

"Positive talks" over a deal for the Uruguay striker, 27, have progressed quickly since a Barcelona delegation arrived in London on Wednesday to meet Liverpool chief executive Ian Ayre. That is despite the fact that Suarez is serving a four-month worldwide ban for biting defender Giorgio Chiellini during Uruguay's 1-0 win against Italy on June 24.

FIFA has confirmed, though, that the ban does not extend to transfers or the undertaking of a medical. However, Suarez must train on his own and is not allowed to train with any club for the duration of the ban.

Suarez ended up staying at Liverpool last summer despite giving several interviews stating that he wanted to leave, with the club rejecting two bids from Arsenal. He signed a contract extension last December, committing him to staying at Anfield until 2018, although the inclusion of a release clause did leave the door open to an exit.

This article originally appeared on ESPN FC

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