Liverpool and Tottenham are locked in a battle for Luis Suarez after both clubs approached Ajax over a January move, Goal.com UK can reveal.
The Uruguayan star is believed to favour a move to Spurs but Liverpool could yet trump their Premier League rivals as Ajax want around €23 million for the striker now they have sparked a bidding war.
They had initially made Suarez available for €20m (£16.8m) but due to cash problems are determined to get the best possible deal.
Goal.com UK understands the Dutch club have indicated they are ready to cash in on their prize asset in the January transfer window despite the player claiming over the weekend that he would be staying in Amsterdam.
Suarez is leaning towards Tottenham due to their more competitive league position and for personal reasons, as he would prefer to bring up his young daughter in London.
As Goal.com UK revealed on Saturday, Spurs manager Harry Redknapp has identified the World Cup star as his number No.1 striker target after dropping his interest in Andy Carroll and chairman Daniel Levy is due to step up talks this week.
But Liverpool have also been tracking the 23-year-old for a number of months and director of football strategy Damien Comolli has also registered his interest with Ajax as he prepares to take on his former club for one of the hottest properties in Europe.
"Ajax have received approaches from both clubs, although nothing is imminent," a source told Goal.com UK. "Suarez would prefer Tottenham at the moment because he is a family-orientated man with a very young child and he likes the idea of living in London."
Tottenham, who are fifth in the Premier League, want Suarez to help them secure Champions League football for next season, but the club are first waiting to sell Robbie Keane, the Republic of Ireland captain who continues to reject a move to Birmingham. Redknapp is also known to have slight concerns over whether Suarez will be able to cut it in English football as he fears he is too weak and small to lead the line.
Liverpool are confident they can pip Spurs to Suarez due to the history of the club and they feel they can offer a more lucrative wage package. New manager Kenny Dalglish is believed to support a move for the player, who has scored 110 goals in 154 games for the Dutch giants and netted a stunning 49 times last season.
Liverpool's owners, Fenway Sports Group, may also be more inclined to meet Ajax's asking price as they look to make another statement of intent following the dismissal of Roy Hodgson and his replacement with Kop legend Dalglish.
The Reds are desperate to add a quality striker to the squad as both a partner and an alternative to Fernando Torres, who has been out of sorts all season. They believe Suarez, who can play either as an out-and-out striker or as a creative second forward, fits the bill.
Suarez joined Ajax from FC Groningen in 2007 for £6.2m but his relationship with the club hierarchy has deteriorated since the sacking of former Spurs manager Martin Jol, especially after they failed to appeal against his seven-match ban incurred by the Dutch Football Federation in late November for biting PSV Eindhoven midfielder Otman Bakkal.
Comolli revealed on Monday that Liverpool - who have prioritised a striker, winger and full-back - have been working on a number of transfer deals but admitted the Merseysiders are not close to sealing any moves.
He said: "We have been working on it [a transfers list], but I don't know if there will be any activity because it is a very complicated market and we have to be very careful what we do."
Tottenham continue to try to complete a loan deal for David Beckham while their £2m January move for Everton's Steven Pienaar could also be under threat as reports emerged that Chelsea are interested in the South African midfielder.
This story has been reproduced from the media. It does not necessarily represent the position of Liverpool Football Club.
Sources: LiverpoolFC.tv, Goal.com
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