 LIVERPOOL are on the brink of making Ryan Babel their second major summer signing after tabling an improved offer for the Dutch starlet. The Anfield outfit made an initial bid of around £10million for the 20-year-old attacker only for his club Ajax to knock back their opening gambit. But Liverpool returned yesterday with an increased offer that is believed to be nearer to the Dutch club’s £13.5m (20m euro) valuation of the player. Now Ajax are increasingly resigned to losing Babel, who is understood to have set his heart on a move to Anfield. Ajax technical director Martin van Geel said: “Liverpool are serious and have made another offer of a lot more. “Because they want him so much, it looks as if Babel will be off and Ajax will be losing him.” The versatile Babel, who can play in attack or on either wing, has been courted by Premier League rivals Arsenal and Newcastle United in recent months. Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has targeted the player after being forced to concede defeat to Chelsea in the battle for the signature of Lyon’s Florent Malouda. Babel enhanced his burgeoning reputation by playing a starring role in Holland’s triumph in last month’s European Under-21 Championship, being named man of the match following his goalscoring display in their 4-1 final win over Serbia. And Babel’s agent, Winnie Haatrecht, yesterday confirmed Liverpool’s approach to Ajax for his player’s services. “I can confirm that Ajax have received an official offer from Liverpool,” said Haatrecht. “Ryan until now hasn’t spoken with the club. “Only when Ajax tells us they have agreed terms and tell us we can speak with them. Then we’ll be in phase two and in that phase we will listen and see what Liverpool’s plans are with Ryan. Only after that discussion will we begin on the financial side but we aren’t that far yet as we have to wait on the clubs reaching an agreement.” Babel, who has already been capped 14 times by the full Dutch team and scored on his debut against Romania in March 2005, believes he is capable of making the grade in English football. “Of course I’m ready but if the time is right or it’s the right club that’s another matter,” said Babel. “I’m still learning a lot at Ajax and their a fantastic club and I’m still young and I’m not in a hurry. Everyone says I should stay for another year so we’ll see what happens. For sure I want to play in the Premier League and again it’s only when.” The move for Babel follows the club record capture last week of £20m striker Fernando Torres, with Benitez also hopeful agreement can be reached with West Ham United over a fee for Israeli schemer Yossi Benayoun. Departing Anfield, at least on a temporary basis, could be centre-back Gabriel Paletta. Reports from Spain suggest La Liga outfit Levante have expressed an interest in taking the 21-year-old Argentine on loan for the season with Benitez keen for the player to gain first-team experience. Paletta joined Liverpool from Banfield last summer, but has since made only eight appearances as he has struggled to adapt to life in the Premier League. Meanwhile, Djibril Cisse yesterday officially ended his Liverpool career by signing a five-year contract with French club Marseille. | 
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