... Barcelona are to sign Luis Suarez from Liverpool by tabling a meeting with Reds chief executive Ian Ayre.
The Uruguay international, currently banned for four months for biting Italy's Giorgio Chiellini at the World Cup, is heading to Nou Camp.
Liverpool will happily let him go, as they know it would be difficult to keep him after the incident in Brazil - the THIRD time he has bitten a player.
Suarez insisted he did NOT bite the Italian, blaming the English press for highlighting an incident that he insisted "didn't happen".
Then he admitted he told a pack of lies.
Liverpool understand he would be thrown to the lions back in the Premier League and it has already put the club in a bad light.
Former Newcastle manager says Liverpool should defend him, but he is in the minority, and the Reds want to wash their hands of a player who is never far from trouble.
Following the 27-year-old striker's apology - which Barca had a major influence in procuring - the La Liga side have stepped up their pursuit.
On Tuesday sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta spoke in complimentary tones, suggesting "he has the necessary quality to play for Barca", and the club have followed that up with a request for a meeting with Ayre.
Press Association Sport understands the four-month suspension has not reduced the value of a player who was the Barclays Premier League's top scorer last season with 31 goals.
The confidential clause was inserted into the new lucrative £200,000-a-week contract he signed in December but it is reported Barcelona will try to secure the player for between £50million and £60million.
As an incentive they may offer forward Alexis Sanchez, valued at £30million, as a makeweight in the deal.