Controversial striker Luis Suarez was seemingly moving closer toward a move from Liverpool to Barcelona after reports in the British media on Thursday said talks between the clubs were ongoing.
Several organizations said discussions had started in London, with Britain's domestic Press Association news agency quoting a Liverpool source as saying: "The talks were productive, with sensible expectations on both sides.
"Further talks and discussions will take place in due course. Nothing is finalized as of now."
Barcelona stoked the speculation regarding a transfer by heaping more praise on Suarez on Wednesday after the Uruguay forward apologized for biting a rival World Cup player but refused to comment on rumors of a possible signing.
Despite the furor over the incident, Barcelona was reportedly still ready to sign him on the condition he apologize for biting Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini.
Suarez's attack on Chiellini saw him thrown out of the World Cup and given a four-month global ban from all soccer.
It was the third time he had been banned for biting, yet he remains one of world soccer's hottest properties after leading the Premier League scoring chart last season with 31 goals.
Liverpool, which finished runner-up in the Premier League last season behind champion Manchester City, has indicated that if the 27-year-old Suarez is to leave Anfield it will be for a fee of at least $121 million.
Meanwhile, there have also been suggestions Barcelona could offer Chile forward Alexis Sanchez in return to help seal the deal.
Suarez's current ban means he could not play for Barcelona until October at the earliest.
Nevertheless, following Suarez's Twitter apology to Chiellini, reticent Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu said: "Luis Suarez is a Liverpool player so I can't speak about Suarez.
"I can talk about what he did. He made a mistake during a match and has apologized. That honors him because it is hard to admit mistakes," he said.
"But once you do it, it is the first step to change. He is a player who has to recover and keep playing."
Uruguay on Thursday lodged an appeal against the ban, a top FIFA official said.
(China Daily 07/05/2014 page15)
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