Incredibly, Barcelona could complete their star signing of the summer both quickly and efficiently. If no unexpected setbacks arise, the Blaugrana and Liverpool could announce an agreement for the transfer of Luis Suarez in the coming days. Sources claim that negotiations on both sides are well advanced.
All parties have defined their positions and the player's final destination appears set: Camp Nou. Barca have decided that Suarez is the chosen striker to strengthen their attack and the Uruguayan has also made his position clear. The player claimed a while ago now that he wanted to abandon the Premier League and has now gone a step further and asked his representatives to reach a satisfactory agreement with Barcelona.
Meanwhile, Liverpool have accepted that the 27-year-old will leave this summer and are now just intent on getting the best possible deal and scouring the market for a replacement.
The information coming out of Barça is as brief as it is direct: All agree that the transfer is moving along well and the figures of the operation are becoming increasingly closer. The Catalan club would be willing to pay €50million euros plus the capital generated by the potential sale of Alexis Sanchez. The Chilean will leave, whether that's to Liverpool, another Premier League club or Juventus is yet to be seen.
One or way or another though, the value of Alexis will be added to the €50m already designated to the transfer. In short, a first-rate transfer globally valued at an amount close to €80 million.
From Barcelona and the people close to the player, everyone insists things are proceeding normally - the biting incident with Giorgio Chiellini did not influence anything.
In England there was some news recently. According to the press, the general manager of Liverpool, Ian Ayre, reportedly met with coach Brendan Rodgers to discuss the strengthening of the squad and to clarify the issue of Luis Suarez. Rodgers has shown understanding and knows that the time has come to move on and collect as much money as possible.
Barca have also won a second battle - one with Real Madrid. Los Blancos opened contact with the player months ago, however, for one reason or another, they have slipped out of contention.
Barca now have a free hand, absolute priority and just need to tie up negotiations and resolve the pending future of Alexis. Once that is sorted, Liverpool will open the door.
Andoni Zubizarreta and note Sanllehí been successfully played their roles in the trasnfer, the challenge of getting the deal over the line now rests in the hands of Josep Maria Bartomeu.