Fenway Sports Group, the American consortium that bought Liverpool in October, is facing its first major transfer decision. Manager Kenny Dalglish and director of football strategy Damien Comolli have wanted to buy  Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez of Ajax, but its offer of 12.7 million pounds ($20.2 million) falls woefully short of the 30-million-pound ($47.8 million) price tag stipulated by the Dutch club.

Manager Frank de Boer has ratcheted up the pressure by also insisting Liverpool must come up with a suitable offer by Saturday, which is two days prior to the official closing of the Jan. 31 winter transfer window.

“I do not want to be surprised on the last day of the window,” said De Boer. “So we have made that deadline Jan 29. This situation has been going on long enough. Liverpool have to come up with a good offer and the money we want by that day."

Ajax and De Boer are surely empowered in their request by the 24 million pounds ($38.3 million) paid last week by Aston Villa for Sunderland striker Darren Bent, who scored in his debut as Villa beat Manchester City, 1-0. But FSG, which paid $447 million for Liverpool, is new to this business of shelling out millions for players.