Liverpool up Babel bid
Liverpool fans hope Benitez can push for the league title next season
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Tuesday, 10, Jul 2007 09:12
Liverpool are stepping up their pursuit of young Ajax star Ryan Babel, after tabling an improved offer.
The Reds are chasing "two more new faces", according to manager Rafael Benitez, after signing Fernando Torres from Atletico Madrid last week and completing a deal for Andriy Voronin from Bayer Leverkusen.
And it seems the Spaniard has his sights set on Babel, who led the Netherlands to a second successive under-21 European Championship title last month.
Benitez is rumoured to have offered £13.5 million for the playmaker, after having a £10 million bid rejected, and Ajax's technical director Martin van Geel told the Sun he is almost resigned to losing his star player.
"Liverpool are very serious about signing Babel and have made an offer a lot higher than before," he said.
"Because they want him so much, I think we will lose him."
Babel's agent, Winnie Haatrecht, also added fuel to the fire.
"I can say nothing about transfer fees, but I can confirm that Liverpool have made a bid for Ryan," he told the Netherlands' Sportweek magazine.
"Ryan himself hasn't spoken with that club. Only when Ajax say that the clubs have an agreement can we speak, and phase two starts.
"But it's not that far yet. We first have to wait to see if the clubs reach a deal or not."