The game’s global governing body appears to have backtracked on earlier claims and insists the Uruguay international is not available to train but can be transferred

Fifa insist Liverpool striker Luis Suarez is banned from training with his club during his four-month ban, after apparently backtracking on earlier claims to the contrary.

Claudio Sulser, head of Fifa’s disciplinary committee, previously stated it would be “disproportionate” to ban Suarez from pre-season training.

However, when asked to clarify these remarks, Fifa insist Sulser was “inaccurate” and that Suarez would not be allowed to train with either Uruguay or Liverpool.

“This is inaccurate,” said a Fifa spokesperson. “Claudio Sulser just said he could make the medical testing for a transfer [only this], but clearly said as many times earlier that he cannot do any football activity which includes that he cannot train with the national team nor club.”

Suarez is allowed to move clubs during his ban, and Goal understands Barcelona are on the verge of signing the Uruguay international in an €88m deal.

Barca sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta has previously praised Suarez after he finally apologised for biting Giorgio Chiellini during Uruguay’s clash with Italy at the World Cup.

Suarez was banned from all football-related activity for four months, suspended for nine competitive international matches and hit with an €80,000 fine for the incident, although Uruguay have appealed the ban in an attempt to get it reduced.

The Spanish giants are preparing to make a second bid for the Liverpool star that matches the release clause in his contract as talks reach an advanced stage

By Wayne Veysey

Barcelona are on the verge of completing the €88 million signing of Liverpool striker Luis Suarez.

Senior officials from Liverpool and Barcelona met in London on Wednesday, with the Catalan club making an initial offer for Suarez of around €82m.

While that initial offer was rebuffed, and discussions involving Alexis Sanchez in a potential cash-plus-player deal were short-lived, Barcelona are now confident of wrapping up the signing in a straight cash deal.

The Spanish giants are expected to table an improved offer that will meet the release fee stipulated in the contract Suarez signed last December. Goal understands that this figure is just over the €88m mark.

Liverpool are still pursuing Sanchez but they are behind Arsenal in the race to land the Chile World Cup star, who is not part of the deal to take Suarez to Camp Nou.

The Merseysiders now expect to receive the third-highest transfer fee for a player at a Premier League club, beaten only by Gareth Bale’s €100m move to Real Madrid last summer and Cristiano Ronaldo’s €94m transfer from Manchester United to the reigning European champions in 2009.

Liverpool’s American owners vowed to stand firm on Suarez’s valuation after he had tarnished his image by biting Giorgio Chiellini and incurring a four-month ban from Fifa.

Fenway Sports Group were adamant during talks with Barca that Suarez could only leave if the valuation of his release fee was met.

Liverpool have not denied that, as revealed by Goal, a release fee was inserted in the new €283,000-a-week contract that Suarez signed at the end of 2013.

All parties now expect the 27-year-old to transfer to Camp Nou and line up alongside Lionel Messi and Neymar in a star-studded front line next season.

Barca went public with their interest in the Uruguayan on Tuesday when sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta praised “humble” Suarez for apologising via Twitter for biting Chiellini.

This open display of affection for the player came just 24 hours before a meeting in London between Barca and Liverpool, who had no involvement in Suarez’s apology.

“Everyone knows that Luis is an excellent player, everyone knows last season he played in various positions in attack, but everyone also knows that he is a Liverpool player,” the Zubizarreta said.

“Regardless of whether the club signs him or not, his quality is unquestionable. He has shown a lot of quality with Uruguay and scored more than 30 goals with Liverpool, so he has the necessary quality to play for Barca.”

Brendan Rodgers’ side have been linked with a move for the Netherlands international but the striker is remaining tight-lipped over any potential switch to Anfield

Klaas-Jan Huntelaar says he will have to have to “speak to Schalke” before contemplating a move to Liverpool.

Brendan Rodgers’ side have been linked with a move for the Netherlands international as they line up potential replacements for Luis Suarez, with the Reds currently holding talks with Barcelona over the sale of the disgraced striker.

Huntelaar, however, is remaining coy over any speculation as he prepares for his country’s World Cup quarter-final against Costa Rica.

“Regarding the rumours about Liverpool it would only be fair to speak to Schalke first,” he told De Telegraaf.

“I’ve talked with Schalke about an extension for a while. After the World Cup I am having a holiday. Then I will speak to them again.

“With my agent, I now do not talk about the interest from clubs. I focus on the tournament.”

Huntelaar, 30, who scored in Netherlands’ 2-1 victory over Mexico in the round of 16, hit 14 goals in 21 appearances in all competitions last season.

He joined Schalke for €14 million in August 2010, but any sale is likely to be considerably less than that sum, with his current contract due to expire in June 2015.