Liverpool have made an offer for Ryan Babel, according to the Ajax forward's agent. The youngster impressed for Holland at the recent European Under 21 Championship and has been strongly linked with Arsenal. Babel has admitted he envisages playing for the Gunners at some stage in his career, but cast doubt on a summer move to Emirates Stadium. However, he could now have the option of a transfer to Liverpool after Babel's agent Winnie Haatrecht revealed the UEFA Champions League finalists' interest. "I won't say anything about the amounts currently mentioned, however I can confirm Ajax have received an official bid from Liverpool," Haatrecht told Dutch magazine Sportweek. "Ryan has not spoken with the club. "Only if Ajax tell us they have an agreement, and state we can talk, will phase two begin. "In that phase you will look at what Liverpool want, what their plans are with Babel. "After that, the financial part will come, but it's not that far. "First, we have to wait for both clubs to get a deal." source http://home.skysports.com/list.aspx?hlid=475944&CPID=9&clid=215&lid=4161&title=Liverpool+in+bid+for+Ajax+ace
Good player. Well worth 6.5 million. Might be a cheaper option to Simao and Alves, but he is young, so might not play a big part next year. Arsenal have been tracking him for ages so thats a good sign.
Says on the bbc website that liverpool have bidded around 10mill but ajax are holding out for 13/14 mill.
Liverpool have made a £10m bid for highly-rated Ajax winger Ryan Babel, BBC Five Live Sport understands. However, the Dutch club are thought to be holding out for £13.5m for the 20-year-old, who has also been linked to Arsenal. Babel's agent told Sportweek magazine: "Liverpool have made a bid for Ryan but he hasn't spoken with them. "We can only speak when Ajax say the clubs have an agreement, and phase two can start, but it's not that far yet." But Five Live football correspondent Jonathan Legard has been told a deal could go through on Wednesday. He said: "Liverpool have bid 15m euros (£10m), Ajax want 20 million euros (£13.5m) so there's a gap of about £3.5m. "He was strongly linked to Arsenal but Liverpool have made their move and it seems they will use the money from Craig Bellamy's move to West Ham to bring in one of Europe's finest young talents." Babel impressed as part of the Holland Under-21 team that won the recent European Championship. Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez signed striker Fernando Torres from Atletico Madrid last week and admitted he was looking to sign wide players to help supply his new acquisition. Babel made 27 Eredivisie appearances for Ajax last season, scoring five goals.
as ArmaghRed said: below is the full report for the BBC... Liverpool have made a £10m bid for highly-rated Ajax winger Ryan Babel, BBC Five Live Sport understands. However, the Dutch club are thought to be holding out for £13.5m for the 20-year-old, who has also been linked to Arsenal. Babel's agent told Sportweek magazine: "Liverpool have made a bid for Ryan but he hasn't spoken with them. "We can only speak when Ajax say the clubs have an agreement, and phase two can start, but it's not that far yet." But Five Live football correspondent Jonathan Legard has been told a deal could go through on Wednesday. He said: "Liverpool have bid 15m euros (£10m), Ajax want 20 million euros (£13.5m) so there's a gap of about £3.5m. "He was strongly linked to Arsenal but Liverpool have made their move and it seems they will use the money from Craig Bellamy's move to West Ham to bring in one of Europe's finest young talents." Babel impressed as part of the Holland Under-21 team that won the recent European Championship. Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez signed striker Fernando Torres from Atletico Madrid last week and admitted he was looking to sign wide players to help supply his new acquisition. Babel made 27 Eredivisie appearances for Ajax last season, scoring five goals.
Typical agent speak "He was strongly linked to Arsenal but Liverpool have made their move and it seems they will use the money from Craig Bellamy's move to West Ham to bring in one of Europe's finest young talents." A good player. But I think now people think we have money, the chelsea factor is creeping in. Is for example Benayoun is worth 8 million. Before our interest, Ajax were seriously considering an offer of less than £6.5 million from Arsenal ( admittedly before the U-21 championships). If Malouda goes for 15 million, then Im sorry, but this kid isnt worth 13.5 million ( he is good but...) Quaresman was originally proced at 14 million, now they want 17. I now see the rationale in "not paying out like a drunken sailor for players). It is abit unfair that clubs hold their players to ransom like this, because I'm sure any kid with talent would love to ply his trade with one of the world greatest clubs. It is unfortunate greedy agents and clubs deny them this dream.
Steve Claridge in the Guardian did a scouting report on him last week. He had him pegged as a deep lying centre forward a la bergkamp. Thats where he played for holland in the U21 finals. http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/sport/2007/07/03/scouting_report_ryan_babel_aja.html
Well As a player, he sure looks good ... no doubt Rafa has him in mind to help feed Torres, which would be good etc Lets just hope we don't get done for a small fortune here, though Rafa is smart enough so I doubt he'll be done over too easily .... in the next breath, it's nice to be in a position where we can splash a bit of cash around and get decent players though, ain't it !
he's quality, really quick and strong. Seems to have a good attitude, always raving about him on eurogoals Hopefully it will go through, if it does I would imagine thats us done for the summer.
Ajax's technical director Martin van Geel said: "Liverpool are very serious about signing Babel and have made an offer a lot higher than before. Because they want him so much, I think we will lose him." Looks like the deal could be wrapped up soon.
Presume that means the Quaresma rumours were rubbish.... Does that mean the end of any deals for Simao or Alves aswell??
think the alves phase has come and gone as benitez said he would be happy if he got a winger - looks like babel bit pricey for a 20 year old. wonder what formation we will play next season, will gerrard play a secondary striker role??
Going on what I have read in the past Rafa likes to play 4-2-3-1 which would mean 3 attacking players playing off Torres I guess... Would imagine that would be Gerrard plus two from Kewell, Babel, Pennant, Kuyt etc
He doesn't sound like a winger to me but that aside 6.5m -> 10m -> 13.5m. Thats a big jump. I think if we're getting him at that price Rafa will probably be content with him and Torres being the attacking/winger additions with both Kewell and and Pennant having crucial seasons ahead of them now to prove their worth. Some of the prices quoted for recognised wingers who may provide but prob won't score a lot seemed to be too high and rising after the Torres deal. They may be established but also may not be value for money in terms of being a bit long in the tooth to adjust to the Prem, seems a value risk if costing much more than 10m. I would see the fact he's adding a 23 and 20 year old as a good thing, remembering what he did with Agger ! If that valuation is correct then, presuming we're interested in these, I could see Benayoun, Heinze and a (prob unknown) right full back coming in. It would seem the balance of transfer money given what we've spent and whats come in will cover that but another expensive winger would prob only leave money for one more ~5m addition. Saying that Babel to me sounds more Benayoun like then winger like if he is as described in a linked article another Denis Bergkamp. I'm suspicious that maybe the price is exageratted and we're still targetting another winger. This would make sense if you cater for the supposed Benayoun money being used for Babel and the balance going on a winger and say Heinze or another full back.