Babel to miss out on 'dream' move

Ajax manager Frank de Boer has admitted Ryan Babel looks like being priced out of a return to his former club.

Anfield flop Babel is stalling over a move to Hoffenheim, despite the Bundesliga's club's £5.8million bid being accepted by Liverpool, in the hope that Ajax will take him back.

But his hopes appeared to be fading after De Boer, installed as successor to Martin Jol at the Amsterdam Arena, confirmed an interest in the Holland forward but claimed the overall package of transfer fee plus wages of over £40,000 a week was beyond their means.

'He would be a very attractive proposition for us, because he can operate on either flank or as a central striker,' said the Ajax boss.

'I know him very well from the national team, and his arrival here would make Ajax stronger. But I can see problems with the financial side of it. It looks a very expensive deal.'

Babel has made no secret of his longing to return home to Amsterdam, after travelling to Hoffenheim earlier in the week but returning to Liverpool's Melwood training ground without signing.

He has offered to accept a pay cut to complete his dream move to Ajax but may have to take a bigger hit than he had envisaged, for the move to go through.

Liverpool also have some work to do to prise Luis Suarez away from Ajax, as the clubs continue to haggle over a valuation for the striker.

Ajax will sell at around £20million, but Sportsmail understands Liverpool's opening offer was as little as £10.95million.

They are believed to have made an increased bid of approaching £18million, but Ajax insist that still falls short of the amount required to trigger his release.

Source: Daily Mail

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