Babel on brink of Hoffenheim move

Netherlands international Ryan Babel is set to leave Liverpool after agreeing a deal with Bundesliga side Hoffenheim.

A fee was agreed between the English Premier League side and Hoffenheim for the 24-year-old on January 19.

It appeared Babel would be remaining at Anfield after Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish announced the move was off early on Monday.

But a statement appearing the same day on the Liverpool website has now confirmed the transfer is likely to go ahead.

“Ryan Babel has agreed a move to TSG 1899 Hoffenheim,” the statement said.

“The Dutch international will fly to Germany tomorrow (Tuesday) to finalise the deal.”

He passed a medical with Hoffenheim earlier this week and is believed to have signed a two-and-a-half-year deal with the club, who are eighth in the Bundesliga table.

An attacking midfielder and forward, Babel joined Liverpool from Eredivisie side Ajax in 2007.

He struggled to claim a regular place in the first team at Anfield, scoring 12 goals in 91 appearances for Liverpool.

Babel’s departure may lead to new developments in the proposed transfer of Ajax forward Luis Suarez.

The Uruguay international is the subject of a bid from Liverpool, but a deal has stalled after the offer failed to match Ajax’s asking price, believed to be in the region of 20 to 25 million pounds.

Liverpool have also had a four million-pound bid for Blackpool captain Charlie Adam rejected.

The Scotland international had a transfer request turned down by the club on Monday.