re: 2014/2015 Winter Transfer Thread

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could spend even more if they cared at all about paying down the debt the glazers used to acquire the club

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once again stop ignoring the facts you guys can not be like the last two years

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I know you love trying to shite on the LFC supporters optimism... LS, FFP... it doesn't work, but I'm sure you'll have something new next week.. I'm looking forward to it!

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Tony Barrett

Luis Suárez appears to be heading inexorably towards an Anfield exit after Barcelona resolved to sign the controversial forward despite his four-month ban for biting Giorgio Chiellini, the Italy defender, in an incident that has overshadowed the World Cup.
The Barcelona hierarchy held talks in the aftermath of Suárez’s suspension to establish whether or not to continue their pursuit of him, and Luis Enrique, the club’s coach, is understood to have held sway with a passionate appraisal of the qualities that the 27-year-old would bring to the team.
According to reports in Spain, as well as extolling Suárez’s virtues as a player, those in favour of taking the Uruguay striker to the Nou Camp also offered a reminder that Barcelona retained the services of Hristo Stoichkov despite the Bulgarian receiving a two-month ban for stamping on the foot of Urizar Azpitarte, the referee, in 1990.
Liverpool are aware of the growing momentum behind Barcelona’s attempt to sign Suárez, and they are also conscious that the Uruguay striker has a long-held desire to move to Spain. Though Liverpool will not allow Suárez to leave willingly, there is a growing feeling within the club that it would make sense to allow him to depart should they receive an offer approaching the record £85 million fee that Real Madrid paid for Gareth Bale last year.
Barcelona are hoping the controversy surrounding Suárez will convince Liverpool that the time has come to dispense with his services, but Anfield sources maintain there is no prospect of him being allowed to depart in a cut-price deal as a result of his suspension.
While Barcelona believe that Suárez’s ineligibility to take part in any kind of football activities until late October means he should be made available at a discount, given that he would be banned for the first six games of the forthcoming La Liga campaign, Liverpool regard the suspension as irrelevant. There is also bemusement at the idea that Barcelona are seeking a lower fee given reports that Suárez has already agreed a five-year contract in principle with the Catalan club.
Liverpool demonstrated last season that they would not be bullied into selling Suárez when Arsenal made a £40,000,001 for his services and refused to buckle even when the former Ajax player attempted to force the move through. That strength of conviction has not been altered by Suárez’s latest indiscretion and Liverpool will consider allowing him to leave only if their valuation — one that aligns with a buyout clause in his contract — is met.
A growing possibility is that Barcelona will offer Alexis Sánchez in part exchange for Suárez, but although Liverpool have a strong interest in the Chile winger, they would entertain that idea only if there is also a cash adjustment in the region of £50 million in their favour.
That it has now reached the stage where the size of the expected offer will determine Suárez’s future illustrates that Liverpool now accept his departure would allow them to push on with a squad-rebuilding strategy, which looks set to continue with the signing of Adam Lallana from Southampton.
Having already acquired Rickie Lambert for £4 million from the same club, Liverpool brought weeks of negotiations for Lallana to a successful conclusion by agreeing a fee in the region of £25 million for the England player, who is expected to complete his move to Anfield in the next 48 hours.
With a £6 million move for Divock Origi, the Lille and Belgium forward, also close to completion and their interest in Lazar Markovic — the Benfica attacking midfield player who is understood to have a £20 million buyout clause — hardening in recent days, it is becoming increasingly clear that Liverpool are reshaping their forward line.
Suárez’s solicitor, Alejandro Balbi, was in Barcelona yesterday to hold talks with Pere Guardiola, the player’s agent, but claims that they were also meeting with representatives of Liverpool’s legal department have been dismissed by officials at the Merseyside club.

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