Brendan Rodgers tells Luis Suarez he wants to keep him at Liverpool as club braces itself for bids
Brendan Rodgers tells Luis Suarez he wants to keep him at Liverpool as club braces itself for bids
The Reds boss says he will fight to ensure the Uruguayan striker remains
at Anfield - even if a club comes in with a £40million offer
Time to talk: Brendan Rodgers manager of Liverpool Luis Suarez during training
Andrew Powell
Brendan Rodgers has
spelt out his desire to keep Luis Suarez in the first of a series of meetings this week, that will decide the striker’s future.
The Liverpool manager sat down yesterday with his wantaway forward
for the first time since the Uruguayan made clear while on international duty his determination to quit Anfield.
Rodgers has been determined not to bow
to player power and insisted Suarez should join up with the squad in
Australia once he had finished his summer break that was delayed by the
Confederations Cup.
He arrived in Melbourne from South America at the weekend, a few hours ahead of the Liverpool squad who had
travelled from their pre-season game in Indonesia, and trained with team-mates yesterday
.
Rodgers has told the Uruguay international
he will fight to keep him from the clutches of ANY English
club, even if they trigger the £40million clause in the player’s contract that allows him to speak to interested parties. Back in the game: Luis Suarez in action
Andrew Powell
Liverpool
are bracing themselves for a formal bid from Arsenal at that figure over
the coming days, and they are resigned too, to a bid – eventually –
from Real Madrid. for the striker.
However, Rodgers conceded he will be unable to resist a transfer IF the £40m bid arrives and Suarez insists on a move.
Suarez
will make his first appearance for the club since he bit Chelsea’s
Branislav Ivanovic and was banned for 10 games at the end of the season.
And
after that friendly against Melbourne Victory at the MCG in front of
more than 90,000 fans, Rodgers will resume talks with the player, in an
attempt to persuade him to give Liverpool another season.
The
manager has the perfect opportunity to get into the mind of his
controversial striker, with Liverpool due to fly on to Thailand on
Thursday, for the final game of the Far East pre-season tour.
Speaking
in Australia yesterday, Rodgers said: “We know every player has his value and worth, but that doesn’t mean you have to sell him.
“I’ve
been in communication with Luis throughout the summer and we’ll chat
again in the coming days, but he knows he’s a player who is highly
valued at Liverpool and one who is an integral part of our squad.
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Liverpool Training session
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“As
far as we are concerned he’s staying here, and there have been no offers
that suggest otherwise. He knows our feelings, and we will continue to
make them clear to him.”
While
Arsenal prepare a bid, Liverpool know Madrid are lurking in the
background...with the Spanish giants currently in the process of
clearing the decks to make their summer transfer moves.
New
Real boss Carlo Ancelotti could have over £100m to spend, after a series of deals that have already raised significant funds.
Ancelotti could then launch devastating bids for both Suarez and Tottenham’s Gareth Bale.
Liverpool
know Suarez will definitely leave if Real trigger the £40m clause, but
are less certain of the situation with Arsenal. In any event, Rodgers
will fight to keep his player until the end.
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