Brendan Rodgers will seek clarification from Luis Suárez on his future intentions in the next 48 hours, with Liverpool hopeful the striker has come to accept he will not be sold this summer.
Liverpool’s hardline stance over the 26-year-old appeared to have been rewarded when Suárez reportedly told the Uruguayan newspaper El Observador that he was staying at Anfield. John W Henry, Liverpool’s principal owner, offered Suárez little alternative last week when he declared the club would not accept any offer from Arsenal, or a European team, for their leading forward so late in the transfer window.
“For now, due to all of the people’s affection, I will be staying,” Suárez was reported to have said in an attempt to regain favour at Anfield. The South American journalist Martin Charquero, who is close to the Liverpool striker, also tweeted: “Luis Suárez confirms to me that he will not leave Liverpool. The recent support of the fans influenced his decision. Suárez sees it as likely that he’ll sign a renewal to the contract that binds him to Liverpool.”
Speaking after scoring and starring in Uruguay’s 4-2 friendly win over Japan in Tokyo, however, Suárez distanced himself from the dramatic U-turn. “I didn’t say that, maybe someone else did,” he was quoted as saying to Japan’s Kyodo News. “The main thing is that I am here now with the national team.”
Either way, he is due back on Merseyside before Liverpool begin their Premier League campaign at home to Stoke City on Saturday and to outline his position to Rodgers. Liverpool have not been informed by Suárez or his agent, Pere Guardiola, that he is prepared to remain with the club but having made clear their stance, Anfield officials are hopeful the striker now realises there is no prospect of a transfer in this window.
He may seek a new contract containing a more specific release clause, with both Suárez and Arsenal under the mistaken impression a bid of over £40m would trigger a sale this summer.
Suárez has still to offer the apology that Rodgers wants for accusing Liverpool and the manager of broken promises in an interview with the Guardian last week. The striker went public with his frustrations 24 hours after receiving a warm reception from Liverpool fans during an open training session at Anfield, and four days on from a similar response during Steven Gerrard’s testimonial, undermining claims in Uruguay that it is the backing of fans that has prompted a change of heart.
Liverpool have registered their interest in the Brazilian midfielder Willian as they attempt to capitalise on the cost-saving measures at Anzhi Makhachkala but have yet to make an offer for the 25-year-old. Willian only joined the Dagestan club in January from Shakhtar Donetsk, for £30m, but is likely to be sold if Anzhi can recoup the cost after owner Suleiman Kerimov slashed their budget from £116m per season to £32m-£45m.
Fenway Sports Group, Liverpool’s owners, are prepared to sanction a marquee signing but, having lost out on both Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Diego Costa this summer, may await encouragement from Anzhi before making an official bid. Costa signed a three-year contract extension at Atlético Madrid on Wednesday after Liverpool had been led to believe the Brazilian striker was keen on a £21.8m switch to Anfield.
“I am very happy with the deal, it is a very special moment,” said the 24-year-old. “I am delighted with this agreement after fighting for a long time to win the respect and affection of the fans, my team-mates and people in the club.”
© Guardian News & Media Limited 2014
Luis as long as you are at Anfield, you will never walk alone! All hail king Luis, Luis the great! Luis the destroyer!
Muppet.
John, thats a great comment, thanks for your input.
He is a pest,but for now he is OUR pest,and if he stays and scores like he did last year no pool fan will care!!
If he stays and his attitude is right then top 4 is even more realistic than we hope for now…
Another idiotic fan! How can you say that after all the controversy he has brought to our club and how he is still doing it!
If he stays he will play,
if he plays he will score,
if he scores against utd,chelsea,city.ARSENAL, you me and every fan that supports the club and team will be very happy,
All football fans are fickle,
Carragher was blasted early on,2 ogs against Man U,but he won the fans over thru hard work,
Gerrard was hated for nearly signing for Chelsea but not now,
every club has incidents like this,
Remember YNWA
The only reason Gerard did not sign for Chelsea was because his family was threatened.
Is this fact or gossip you heard from a friend of a friend whose cousins buddy has a buddy in Liverpool?
Good man John, I can’t believe that oul gangster story is still doing the rounds.
You seem to have forgotten spurs,everton, and swansea
Every club has incidents like this? What the hell are you on about. Racism, biting another player, hand shake refusal, yea that happens in all clubs on a daily basics. He has tarnished our club, the fans the club stood by him and now he is doing this. He’s a disgrace end off!
He is a headache but he was hung out to dry over the Evra incident,(John Terry anybody)old news
Same with the diving (Bale)old news
I do believe he thought the club would get rid of him with the biting,even think he planned it,but the bottom line is he could be here to stay,
so less of your idoitic statements its not a black and white world,there is a large grey area,about 50 shades of it
Racism not proven premiere league took one side over the other. the handshake if u look at footage evra shook all hands before suarez then he held his hand down when Suarez came along and didn’t want to shake his hand and then Ferdinand didn’t shake suarezes hand either. During the match Ferdinand and evra tried injuring Suarez but nearly injured each other on a through ball .suarez is too good too let go don’t forget Rooney wanted to go and they tried buying him off worked for a while now he wants to go again. You cannot blame the players it’s the agents wanting their player to move on so when he signs a new contract the agent gets a percentage of the contract .Its about time clubs stood strong against these slimy agents Whi use the players for there own gain just as much as the clubs.
John Terry ticks 2 of those on his own
Didn’t Luis say he never said he was staying that someone else did?
Suarez made a complete mockery of Kenny Dalglish, a Liverpool legend, probably their greatest ever player and some of you bat this off by saying, “sure football fans are fickle”!!! Wake up ffs :-)
yes its as child like as that,if thats what you took from that then whisht now the grown ups are talking,no tho to be fair if Liverpool want to get back in the big time we must take a leaf out of Fergies book (the manager not the black eyed pea) and be ruthless and use selfish players for the good of the club
Child like? No. Simple, yes, its as simple as that Sam and apologies for upsetting your sensitivities.