Barcelona have told Liverpool they will meet the release clause in striker Luis Suarez’s contract.
The clause is understood to be about £75m, and Liverpool are not prepared to sell the 27-year-old for less.
After “productive” talks with Barcelona this week, the Reds are trying to establish if Chile forward Alexis Sanchez will move in part-exchange.
Uruguay international Suarez is serving a four-month ban for biting Italy’s Giorgio Chiellini during the World Cup.
World Cup 2014: Uruguay’s Luis Suarez bites Italy’s Giorgio Chiellini
Barcelona are willing to include Sanchez as part of the deal, but if the Chile forward opts to stay, Liverpool are prepared to sell Suarez in a straight deal.
Suarez, who joined the club for £22.7m from Ajax in 2011, has four years remaining on his contract at Anfield.
Liverpool chief executive Ian Ayre spent much of Wednesday in discussions with senior Barcelona officials in London.