Barcelona have finally made an opening move in their bid to sign Luis Suarez from Liverpool by tabling a meeting with Reds chief executive Ian Ayre.

Speculation surrounding the Catalan club’s interest in the Uruguay international, currently banned for four months for biting Italy’s Giorgio Chiellini at the World Cup, has been rife for several weeks.

However, following the 27-year-old striker’s apology — which Barca are suspected to have 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.

It is understood that Ayre met Barcelona officials in London yesterday to listen to their proposals.

However, there is likely to be plenty of negotiation to follow as Liverpool will not even consider doing business unless Suarez’s high-value buy-out clause — possibly as much as £80 million — is met as they do not believe the four-month suspension has reduced the value of a player who was the 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 £50m and £60m.

Despite there being a difference in valuation of £20m, it is believed a deal can still be reached with the Spanish side keen to secure a transfer this summer with a transfer ban coming into effect in 2015.

As an incentive they may offer forward Alexis Sanchez, valued at £30m, as a makeweight in the deal as the Reds are known to be interested in the player but the Chile international is also a target for other big clubs around Europe.

Arsene Wenger is believed to have held talks with Sanchez’s agent while Manchester United are also rumoured to be interested but may turn to Chile international Arturo Vidal in a deal thought to be around £45m.

Last summer Arsenal failed in their attempts to sign Suarez after a bid of £40,000,001 was made in the mistaken assumption that would trigger his release when it actually only meant that Liverpool had to inform their striker of the Gunners’ offer.

Since then Liverpool have moved to make Suarez’s contract situation more definitive in terms of the price of his release.