Arsenal have failed in their latest attempt to sign Luis Suárez despite making an extraordinary offer of
£40,000,001
Arsenal have failed in their latest attempt to sign Luis Suárez despite making an extraordinary offer of £40,000,001 that they had hoped would force Liverpool to sell the Uruguay forward.
The eye-catching figure was formulated by Suárez’s agent, Pere Guardiola, who believed that Liverpool would have to allow his client to leave in the event of any interested party offering in excess of £40 million.
Liverpool have always held a different interpretation of the relevant clause in the former Ajax player’s contract, however, insisting that they need only to consider such a offer, and their conviction that is the case resulted in a swift rejection of Arsenal’s latest bid.
Liverpool officials were bemused by the nature of Arsenal’s latest attempt to acquire Suárez, particularly after Ian Ayre, the Anfield club’s managing director, informed Ivan Gazidis, the Arsenal chief executive, over a fortnight ago that £40 million would not be enough to buy the 26-year-old regardless of whatever encouragement Guardiola was offering them.
That came in the immediate aftermath of Arsenal’s initial £30 million offer, which they claimed would be their first and only bid. Arsène Wenger’s growing belief that Suárez is willing to join Arsenal, however, encouraged the North London club to submit an improved offer. After Liverpool also gave that proposal short shrift, they will have to decide whether or not to continue their pursuit.
In keeping with their own analysis of Suárez’s contract, Liverpool will inform the player of Arsenal’s latest offer after their pre-season friendly against Melbourne Victory today.
Both Ayre and Brendan Rodgers, the Liverpool manager, have consistently stressed that Suárez is not for sale, although there is also a recognition that it would become increasingly difficult to keep a player who has publicly admitted being unsettled in the event of an offer being received that matches their own valuation.
Rodgers has already mentioned the £55 million fee that Paris SaintGermain paid Napoli for Edinson Cavani, Suárez’s Uruguay team-mate, as a possible reference point for Suárez’s own value, but as yet Liverpool are still to receive a bid of that magnitude despite interest from Real Madrid as well as Arsenal.
Liverpool believe that they are in full control of the situation, particularly with Suárez having three years remaining on his contract, and Rodgers will ask the 26-year-old to be true to his responsibilities when he makes his first pre-season appearance against Melbourne.
Rodgers maintains that he is under no financial pressure to sell Liverpool’s prize asset, even though he readily admits that Suárez’s desire for a move means he has had to formulate plans that will be put into practice in the event of his departure.
“You always have to have one eye on the future,” Rodgers told The Anfield Wrap podcast. “There has been a load of speculation around Luis during the the off season but the reality is that we do not need to sell. We do not want to sell and we do not need the money.
“I spoke to him over the course of the summer and he was always coming back even though people were suggesting that he might not turn up. He did come back and he’s been fine.”
Rodgers is expecting a rejuvenated Raheem Sterling to confirm his potential in the coming season after the teenager missed the end of the previous campaign because of a thigh problem, which had been having a negative effect on his form after a promising start to the winger’s Liverpool career.
“Raheem has come back refreshed,” the Liverpool manager said. “He did work over the course of pre-season and was back and forward from his holidays into Melwood preparing himself well. He looks so fit, he looks sharp, he looks better than what he was last summer when I came in, and I think he’ll play a big part for us again this season.
“At 18 years of age, he has so much potential. If we nurture that well and he can retain his focus and mentality, he can be a big talent for Liverpool.”
