Liverpool Football Club have held amicable talks with Luis Suarez’s agent following a £30million bid from Arsenal for the Uruguayan striker.
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The Guardian’s Andy Hunter reports in Tuesday’s paper that Pere Guardiola, Suarez’s agent, held talks with Reds managing director Ian Ayre and team manager Brendan Rodgers on Merseyside on Monday.
Arsenal‘s reported bid comes after months of speculation linking the 26-year-old with a move to Real Madrid, however there has been no movement from the Spanish side yet.
Hunter says the talks with Guardiola were largely positive for Liverpool, with no confirmation that Suarez intends to hand in a transfer request on his return from holiday.
Despite interest from Real Madrid, Suárez’s preferred destination should he leave Anfield, there was no suggestion from Guardiola that his client has a move in the pipeline during the planned and amicable meeting. Nor did he submit a transfer request on behalf of a player who has spoken repeatedly of his disillusionment with life in England and its media.
The Liverpool Echo also ran the story on Monday evening, saying:
The ECHO understands that the dialogue was both “positive” and “amicable”.
All signs are that Suarez is not trying to force through a transfer at the moment, however, suggestions earlier this summer were that he would forfeit a £1million loyalty bonus should he hand in a transfer request.
Suarez will return to pre-season training with Liverpool at the end of the month after being granted an extended break following his participation in the FIFA Confederations Cup in Brazil this summer.
No doubt the Luis Suarez transfer saga will rumble on for some time yet, but for now he’s a Liverpool player, and for now, he’s staying.
Meanwhile Hunter says Liverpool have also been in negotiations over the sale of winger Stewart Downing to West Ham.
The Reds are said to be seeking at least £8million for the 28-year-old.
Click here for the latest quotes from Saurez today (Tuesday)
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