Barcelona and Liverpool held a productive meeting on Wednesday concerning the future of Luis Suárez with an opening bid of approximately £70 million ($120 million).

Liverpool's initial valuation for Suárez is £80 million, but both sides expect a deal to eventually be reached.

Barcelona is believed to be willing to pay a cash sum for Suárez, or to include Alexis Sánchez as a makeweight. Sánchez has also been linked to a move to Arsenal and would have to agree to the Liverpool move.

Suárez's wife’s family are based in Barcelona and that has influenced his preference to join a rebuilding job under Luís Enrique rather than a move to the European champions, Real Madrid.

Suárez signed a contract extension until 2018 worth £200,000 a week with Liverpool in December, albeit with a release clause designed to eradicate the problems that erupted over his thwarted attempt to sign for Arsenal 12 months ago.

Liverpool have spent £40 million this summer on Adam Lallana, Rickie Lambert and Emre Can, have deals lined up for Divock Origi and Lazar Markovic, and Brendan Rodgers hopes to reinforce his defense with Dejan Lovren and Ryan Bertrand.