Liverpool have finalised the terms of a club-record fee with Barcelona for the sale of striker Luis Suarez.
Official talks began over a week ago and were productive from the start with the Catalan side agreeing to meet the Uruguay international's buy-out clause, believed to be £75million.
Subsequent negotiations continued over the method of payment as the Reds were interested in taking forward Alexis Sanchez as a makeweight in the deal but with the Chile international having signed for Arsenal on Thursday it became a straight cash transaction.
The finer details of how exactly that is to be paid have now been hammered out and Suarez, currently serving a four-month ban for biting Italy's Giorgio Chiellini at the World Cup, is likely to be confirmed as a Barcelona player next week.
"It is with a heavy heart that I leave Liverpool for a new life and new challenges in Spain. Both me and my family have fallen in love with this club and with the city but most of all I have fallen in love with the incredible fans."Luis Suarez
"Liverpool FC confirms that Luis Suarez will be leaving the club after a transfer agreement was reached with FC Barcelona. The player now has permission to complete the usual formalities, which will then conclude the transfer," said a statement,
"We would like to thank Luis for his contribution and the role he played in helping bring Champions League football back to Anfield.
"Everyone at Liverpool Football Club wishes Luis and his family well for the future."
Suarez said it had always been a dream and ambition of his to play in Spain and he asked fans to understand his decision.
"It is with a heavy heart that I leave Liverpool for a new life and new challenges in Spain," said the 27-year-old, whose move to Barcelona takes him closer to his wife Sofia's family.
"Both me and my family have fallen in love with this club and with the city but most of all I have fallen in love with the incredible fans.
"You have always supported me and we, as a family, will never forget it, we will always be Liverpool supporters.
"I hope you can all understand why I have made this decision. This club did all they could to get me to stay, but playing and living in Spain, where my wife's family live, is a lifelong dream and ambition. I believe now the timing is right.
"I wish Brendan Rodgers and the team well for the future. The club is in great hands and I'm sure will be successful again next season.
"I am very proud I have played my part in helping to return Liverpool to the elite of the Premier League and in particular back into the Champions League.
"Thank you again for some great moments and memories. You'll Never Walk Alone."
"I am confident we will improve the team further and will be stronger for this coming season, when we will be competing on all fronts; domestically and in the greatest club competition in the world, the Champions League."Brendan Rodgers
Suarez's ban from all football-related activity does not extend to undergoing a medical or completing a transfer and he will travel to Spain next week to complete the deal.
However, it will prevent him from training with his new team-mates when they arrive in England for a pre-season camp at St George's Park.
"FC Barcelona and Liverpool FC have reached an agreement for the transfer of Luis Suarez," said a statement from Barcelona.
"The Uruguayan will be travelling to Barcelona next week for a medical, to sign his five-year contract and to be officially presented to the media and fans as a FC Barcelona player."
Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers said it was with heavy heart they were losing a player of Suarez's quality.
"Luis is a very special talent and I thank him for the role he has played in the team in the past two years, during my time at Liverpool," he told liverpoolfc.com.
"I think he would be the first to accept he has improved as a player over that period, along with the team, and has benefited from being here as we have benefited from him.
"The club have done all they can over a sustained period of time to try to keep Luis at Liverpool.
"It is with great reluctance and following lengthy discussions we have eventually agreed to his wishes to move to Spain for new experiences and challenges.
"We wish him and his young family well; we will always consider them to be friends.
"We are focused on the future, as we strive to continue with the progress we have made and build on last season's excellent Barclays Premier League campaign.
"I am confident we will improve the team further and will be stronger for this coming season, when we will be competing on all fronts; domestically and in the greatest club competition in the world, the Champions League.
"If there is one thing the history of this great club teaches us, it is that Liverpool FC is bigger than any individual.
"I hope our supporters continue to dream and believe that we are moving forward and with continued improvement and progression, together we will bring the success we all crave and deserve."
Barcelona face a logistical conundrum in terms of Suarez's presentation as their player next week - usually done at the Nou Camp which is opened up to fans - as his worldwide suspension extends to entering any football ground.
The striker is currently weighing up his next move after FIFA rejected an appeal by the player and the Uruguay football federation (AUF) against the ban.
Suarez can now make a further appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport and can also ask the court to suspend the ban pending a final decision.
CAS may refuse to do so, but if it agrees, it could mean Suarez could be available at the start of the domestic season.
The downside, however, is that if CAS puts the ban on hold, it means that, instead of Suarez being banned for a month of the close season when no clubs are playing, he would instead face being out for even longer when the campaign starts.
If Suarez and the AUF want to pursue the matter with CAS, they have 10 days to request the written reasons for the appeal being rejected by FIFA, after which they can lodge a further appeal with CAS.
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