Former Liverpool striker Luis Suarez appears to have inadvertently scuppered Liverpool's January transfer plans, according to reports from Spain.
The Barcelona striker is set to miss the rest of the season after undergoing knee surgery.
Suarez picked up a knock in his side's Supercopa de Espana semi-final defeat by Atletico Madrid in Jeddah on Thursday, and is facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines.
Barcelona confirmed Suarez will be out for around four months in a statement.
It read: "The first team player, Luis Suarez, has been operated on this Sunday by Dr. Ramon Cugat, who used keyhole surgery to resolve an injury to the external meniscus of the right knee by performing a suture.
"The Uruguayan striker will be out for approximately four months."
According to reports in Spain, Liverpool have been eyeing a deal for out-of-favour Barcelona forward Ousmane Dembele.
The £90million-rated Frenchman has made just nine appearances in all competitions for Barcelona this season, with Lionel Messi, Antoine Griezmann and Suarez all ahead of him in the pecking order at Camp Nou.
But this could be all set to change given the injury to Suarez, and will no doubt alter Barcelona's stance on selling Dembele this month.
Liverpool got the ball rolling early this January transfer window, signing £7.25million forward Takumi Minamino from Salzburg.
The 24-year-old made his Reds debut in the third round of the FA Cup, as Liverpool ran out 1-0 winners over rivals Everton .
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