Liverpool agrees on fee with Ajax for Luis Suarez

Liverpool has agreed to acquire Luis Suarez from the Dutch club Ajax,subject to the forward passing a medical examination.

The transfer fee, which is worth up to 26.5 million euros ($36 million), would make the Uruguayan John Henry's biggest signing since his Fenway Sports Group bought Liverpool in October.

Liverpool said Friday it now has permission to discuss a contract with the 24-year-old, who has scored 111 goals in 159 matches since joining Ajax in 2007.

Suarez is banned from playing in the Netherlands until Feb. 4 after receiving a seven-match suspension for biting PSV Eindhoven midfielder Otman Bakkal.

Suarez was one of the stars of this year's World Cup, scoring three goals for Uruguay. But his scoring prowess was overshadowed by his deliberate handball on the line in the final seconds of the quarterfinal against Ghana. He prevented a goal, Asamoah Gyan missed the ensuing kick, and Uruguay advanced in a shootout.