Source: Daily_Mail
Liverpool ramp up bid for Luis Suarez as John Henry talks with agent
Liverpool have moved a step closer to signing Uruguay striker Luis Suarez from Ajax following high-level talks in London. [LNB]Anfield owner John Henry and director of football strategy Damien Comolli met the player's agent Pere Guardiola the brother of Barcelona manager Pep at a hotel in the capital on Tuesday night before the American millionaire was seen taking his wife Linda out to dinner. [LNB]Ajax are trying to push the price for Suarez, 23, towards £25million. [LNB] Top target: Ajax forward Luis Suarez could be on his way to Anfield this month[LNB]Liverpool are reluctant to go above the club record £20m fee for Fernando Torres in 2007, althoughwinger Ryan Babel could be used as a makeweight in the deal if he favours a return to Ajax overjoining German side Hoffenheim.[LNB]The American owners are prepared to offer Suarez a four-year deal worth £75,000 a week to make him their first signing since taking over in October, and the first since Kenny Dalglish returned as manager. [LNB]Dalglish also wants to sign a wide midfield player and left back in the transfer window, but a strikepartner for the beleaguered Torres is the priority and Suarez, who scored 49 goals for Ajax last season, is his No 1 target.[LNB] Talks: John Henry with his wife Linda in London on Tuesday night[LNB][LNB]Liverpool chairman Tom Werner paved the way for the Suarez deal yesterday by promising Dalglish funds to strengthen his squad this month. [LNB]IS SUAREZ THE ANSWER? Ajax striker Suarez has scored 81 goals in 108 league games 35 in 33 last season earned him the Dutch footballer of the year award. [LNB]His Latin temper has cost him seven yellow cards in the league this season. He was banned for seven games after biting PSV midfielder Otman Bakkal on the neck, for which the Dutch press dubbed him 'The Ajax Cannibal'. [LNB]His goal-line save 'The Hand of Hell' denied Ghana a semi-final place at last year's World Cup. Asamoah Gyan missed the spot-kick and Uruguay went on to win on penalties. [LNB]'I would be devastated if we didn't see improvement,' said Werner. 'We've identified targets and hope we will be successful. [LNB]'We're going to be driven by value and we certainly have the resources. But we want to do something that's going to improve the club long-term. I expect progress. Our team need toget younger. But we want to improve not just this week but next year. And we feel we have targets that hopefully we' l l be able to announce.'[LNB]Werner responded to captain Steven Gerrard's call for Dalglish to stay in charge beyond the end of this season by admitting the 59-year-old Scot has put himself in contention for the job on a permanent basis.[LNB]'He's an iconic figure in our club's history,' said Werner. 'He's competent, he understands the club's philosophy, he's excellent at man-management, and we've been very pleased with the progress.[LNB]'He's only been in the job for a short term, but I've been very impressed. I don't like to play hunches, but he is a candidate.'[LNB] Babel desperate for Ajax despite Liverpool agreeing fee with HoffenheimSuarez tops Dalglish's wanted list as Ajax striker is stripped of captaincy Liverpool step up bid to sign Ajax ace Suarez as King Kenny's first additionAll the latest Liverpool news, features and opinion[LNB] Explore more:People: Ryan Babel, Kenny Dalglish, John Henry, Fernando Torres, Steven Gerrard Places: Barcelona, Liverpool, London, Ghana
