Barca table £72million for Suarez but Sanchez could thwart deal

Liverpool and Barcelona will hold further talks over the sale of Luis Suarez this week after the Spanish club made an opening offer understood to be around £72million.

The outline bid is still short of Liverpool's £80m valuation but shows an acceptance of the 27-year-old's worth.

Last wednesday's meeting in London was productive and cordial with sensible expectations 

Liverpool chief executive Ian Ayre met with Barcelona power brokers Raúl Sanllehí, Toni Rossich and Jordi Mestre.

Although nothing was finaliseds there is an expectation that an agreement can be met to grant Suarez his wish to move to Barcelona.Liverpool maintain an interest in Alexis Sanchez and he could yet be included as a makeweight with Liverpool having already valued him at around £30m.

However,  Sanchez is ready to throw a spanner in the works of Barcelona's attempts to sign  Suarez by refusing to join Liverpool.

Barca are keen to use the Chile international as a makeweight in their pursuit of Suarez -- but Sanchez is understood to prefer a move to rivals Arsenal.

And Gunners boss Arsene Wenger is set to grant the South American his wish by launching a move for the attacking midfielder.

The Catalan club are prepared to use Sanchez, who is valued at £30m, as a sweetener in their offer for Suarez.

But Sanchez looks likely to snub a move to Anfield, with his heart set on a switch to the Emirates Stadium.

That means only a straight cash deal for Suarez is likely to be enough to persuade Liverpool to sees their prolific striker.

Sources close to Sanchez have indicated that the 25-year-old would prefer a move to London, leaving Arsenal in pole position to land the talented forward.