Ajax issue Luis Suarez deadline to Liverpool

Liverpool have been trying to tie up a deal for Suarez (GETTY IMAGES)

Liverpool have been told by Ajax they have until Saturday to finalise a deal for Luis Suarez, or the door will be closed on the Uruguayan striker.

The Reds have already had a £12.8m bid for the 25-year-old turned down, with the Amsterdam club holding out for an asking price of £21m on the player.

Suarez has expressed a desire to play in the Barclays Premier League, and Ajax coach Frank de Boer is keen to have the issue resolved as soon as possible.

"We don't want to lose him," he told a press conference. "Liverpool know what they have to pay and we are sticking to our guns.

"We want to know by January 29, after that nothing more will happen."