Liverpool will have to pay £13.5m if they want to sign 20-year-old Ajax winger Ryan Babel, according to the Dutch club’s technical director.

Martin van Geel has confirmed that talks between the two clubs have taken place, but added that no fee had been agreed.

“Liverpool are willing to pay a huge sum for Ryan,” he said. “We have told them what we want, and that’s 20m euros (£13.5m). That is our price.”

Reports have suggested that Liverpool have submitted an improved bid after an initial £10m offer was rejected by the Dutch outfit.

“We would like to see Babel play here next season, it’s not for nothing that we have extended his contract until June 2010,” added Van Geel.

“But if these kind of clubs want to pay us these figures it says something.

“We will see if we can reach a deal in the coming days.”

Babel said: “I had heard that there were some stories on the internet but that happens quite often.

“Liverpool’s interest is serious news to me.

“I haven’t thought about a transfer for a minute, I will do that soon though. That such a big club is interested is of course very nice.”