Liverpool announce Babel sale

Liverpool have agreed to offload winger Ryan Babel to German side Hoffenheim, the Premier League club announced on Tuesday.

It has taken just over a week for new Reds manager Kenny Dalglish to begin re-modelling his squad after succeeding Roy Hodgson, with Liverpool announcing they had agreed to terms with the Bundesliga side for Babel’s services, with reports suggesting a transfer fee of seven million pounds.

The Dutch international is still to agree to terms with Hoffenheim, but underwent a medical on Tuesday ahead of his anticipated Anfield exit.

A statement on the club’s official website read: “Liverpool FC this afternoon announced they had accepted a bid from TSG 1899 Hoffenheim for the transfer of Dutch international Ryan Babel.”

“The Bundesliga club have now been given permission to discuss personal terms with the player, who has travelled to Germany.”

Babel had failed to make an impact on Merseyside since former manager Rafa Benitez paid 11.5 million pounds to Ajax for his services in 2007.

He made 91 Premier League appearances in his three and a half years with Liverpool, but only 31 of those were starts.