Babel favours Ajax move

Ryan Babel looks poised to leave Liverpool in his fourth season at Anfield, but his agent has revealed that he will only join Hoffenheim if a move to Ajax falls through.

Babel, who has scored 22 goals in 146 appearances, is negotiating personal terms with the German club after they agreed a fee, believed to be €7 million, with Liverpool. However agent Winnie Haatrecht says the move will only happen if he is unable secure a return to former club Ajax.

''Hoffenheim will only be an option if Ryan isn't allowed to go on loan to Ajax or they do not want him,'' he said.

The player himself spoke on Tuesday of his hope for a loan move back to Holland - and stated that deal could form part of Ajax striker Luis Suarez's potential transfer to Liverpool.

Liverpool are reported to be interested in Uruguay striker Suarez, who scored three times at the 2010 World Cup before his infamous sending-off for a goal-line handball in the quarter-final against Ghana, but no offer has been made.

"Babel would be an interesting project but nothing is done. There might be news later this week," an Ajax source said. "We want to keep Luis and only obscene offers would be enough."

This story has been reproduced from today's media. It does not necessarily represent the position of Liverpool Football Club.