• Premier League

Liverpool agree Babel deal with Hoffenheim

ESPN staff
January 18, 2011
Ryan Babel has struggled to hold down a first-team place at Liverpool since joining from Ajax © PA Photos
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Liverpool have confirmed that they have accepted Hoffenheim's bid for Netherlands international Ryan Babel.

The 24-year-old, who joined the Anfield club in 2007, has travelled to Germany in order to discuss personal terms with Hoffenheim.

Babel has failed to hold down a first-team place since arriving in Liverpool, with most of his best moments coming during cameo appearances from the substitutes' bench.

He has made just one Premier League start this season, with Roy Hodgson and Kenny Dalglish reluctant to place their faith in him - despite Liverpool's struggles.

Most recently, he was the subject of controversy when he posted a doctored picture of Howard Webb wearing a Manchester United shirt on Twitter following Liverpool's FA Cup defeat at Old Trafford. That proved to be a costly tweet after Babel was fined £10,000 by the FA and warned about his future conduct.

The potential transfer appears to have dealt a blow to Liverpool's hopes of signing Ajax striker Luis Suarez, with Babel set to be used as a makeweight in any deal.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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