Liverpool and Barcelona face hitch over £75m Suarez fee
Deal for Uruguayan hits an obstacle as Brendan Rodgers prepares to bring in two young forwards
Disagreement over the structure of the transfer fee is holding up bitey Uruguayan Luis Suarez's move from Liverpool to Barcelona, claims the Daily Mail this morning. Liverpool want all of the £75m fee up front but Barcelona would rather the payment was made in stages, with part of it based on performances.
However, the Spanish giants still hope to complete the transfer within days, and one sportswear store in Barcelona is so confident the deal with go through that it is already selling Suarez shirts with a number nine on the back. As any dentist can tell you, nine is the number given to the left 'maxillary central incisor' or front tooth in dental notation. It could also be something to do with Suarez's position on the field.
But as one attacker prepares to leave Merseyside, two are ready to come in. Sky Sports predicts that Brendan Rodgers' spending will break the £70m barrier in the next few days with signings of Benfica's Lazar Markovic and Lille's Divock Origi said to be imminent.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Serbian Markovic will complete his move to Anfield in the next 48 hours in a £25m deal, claim the broadcaster's sources. The 20-year-old is a product of Partizan Belgrade's youth system and has 12 international caps to his name.
Those same sources reckon talks over the purchase of Origi are also at an advanced stage. The 19-year-old hitman's star is rising fast: he featured in all five matches for Belgium at the World Cup, despite making his international debut only weeks before the tournament.
A target almost certainly not moving to Anfield is Alexis Sanchez. The Chilean ace has told Anfield officials that his family favours a move to London rather than Merseyside, reports the Liverpool Echo, putting Arsenal in the driving seat in the race for his signature, although they will still have to pay £30m for his services.
Arsene Wenger also looks poised to complete the signing of Newcastle United right-back Mathieu Debuchy within days as the Frenchman prepares for a medical at the Emirates. Gunners fans will welcome Wenger's decision to not leave his summer transfer activity until hours before the window closes but they will be concerned by claims in the Newcastle Chronicle that striker Joel Campbell may by offered as part of the deal to take Debuchy to north London.
The Costa Rican impressed at the World Cup and the Emirates faithful were relishing the chance to see him in first-team action in the coming campaign.
Meanwhile, one transfer that has been completed is Roma's acquisition of Ashley Cole. The 33-year-old was a free agent after being released from Stamford Bridge. Now Reuters says that Samuel Eto'o may be next through the door in Rome. The Cameroonian striker favours a return to Italy, where he won three trophies with Inter Milan between 2009 and 2011.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
The de-extinction process to bring woolly mammoths back to life
Under the Radar Biotechnology start-up's stem cell research brings possibility of genetically engineered species a step closer
By Austin Chen, The Week UK Published
-
Today's political cartoons - March 17, 2024
Cartoons Sunday's cartoons - history repeating, the Pope's white flag, and more
By The Week US Published
-
The Week Unwrapped: Derelict homes, Welsh mines, and vinyl
Podcast What can we do about abandoned property? Are old mines still doing us harm? And what do LP sales tell us about the economy?
By The Week Staff Published
-
The blue-tiful game: are new cards the way to tackle football dissent?
Talking Point Blue cards and sin bins are latest game-changing move to divide opinion
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Festive sport on TV guide: Christmas 2023 and New Year listings
The Week Recommends Enjoy a feast of festive sport with football, darts, racing and NFL
By Mike Starling, The Week UK Published
-
2023-2024 Premier League predictions: champions, relegation and golden boot
feature A look at the top flight talking points and pundit picks for the new season
By Mike Starling Published
-
Man City: can ‘one of the best sides in history’ win the treble?
feature Guardiola’s Premier League champions have two more trophies in their sights
By The Week Staff Published
-
Premier League: Man City vs. Arsenal predictions
feature What the pundits say about tonight’s title race showdown at the Etihad
By Mike Starling Last updated
-
Antonio Conte leaves Tottenham after ‘extraordinary’ rant at players
feature After another year without a trophy, Spurs are now searching for a new manager
By The Week Staff Published
-
Liverpool 7 Man Utd 0: ‘welcome to Jürgen Klopp’s Liverpool 2.0’
feature Anfield’s ‘new front three’ were on fire in the humbling of their bitter rivals
By Mike Starling Published
-
Man City’s financial charges: what next for the Premier League champions?
feature The club is alleged to have breached financial rules around 100 times over a nine-year period
By Mike Starling Published