Liverpool are reportedly fearful that Real Madrid will wait until the end of the transfer window to bid for wantaway striker Luis Suarez.
The Uruguayan has stated that he wants to leave the Reds this summer after enduring a difficult end to last season.
Madrid are favourites to land the 26-year-old but Liverpool would like the Spanish side to make their intentions clear sooner rather than later.
A source from the Reds told The Mirror: "Everyone here remembers how Real behaved in 2004, when they came in with a very late bid for Michael Owen after a summer of constant speculation. They got the player for £7m, which was a fraction of his real value.
"The difference is that Michael only had one year left on his contact while Luis has three. This time we feel we are negotiating from a position of strength rather than weakness, and the £40m clause in Luis's contract would only give a club the right to speak to him."
Suarez is currently away on international duty with Uruguay at the Confederations Cup.
Simon Sinclair
