Luis Suarez will consider handing in a formal transfer request or taking Liverpool to court if he is not allowed to leave the club this summer, according to a report from BBC Sport.
Liverpool have rejected two bids from Arsenal this summer for the Uruguayan, the most recent being a £40million + £1 bid, which they, and Suarez believed triggered a buy-out clause in his contract.
While Liverpool are confident that from a legal perspective their position stands up to scrutiny – and Suarez reluctantly agrees – the player is adamant the Reds have gone back on their word and feels let down.
The BBC claim that sources close to Suarez say the 26-year-old forward is so intent on leaving Anfield this summer that he could challenge the contract legally until he gets his way.
Sources close to Suarez say he will consider taking his case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport and he did go down a similar route when Dutch side Groningen turned down an offer from Ajax for his services in 2007.
Suarez is set to play at Anfield on Saturday for the first time since his infamous ‘bite’ on Chelsea‘s Branislav Ivanovic in a Premier League match in April.
Suarez received a ten match ban for the incident, with six of those games still to serve, but is eligible to play in Steven Gerrard‘s testimonial match today against Olympiakos.
Earlier this week Liverpool had reiterated their belief that Suarez would remain a Reds player this summer. Managing Director Ian Ayre said he was “sure” of Suarez staying on Merseyside.
On Friday, Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger confirmed that the Gunners are still chasing in Suarez, but reassured that talks are being dealt with in an “amicable” way.
Suarez’s body language during Saturday’s testimonial will surely speak volumes. The game gets underway at 12.45pm at Anfield, is sold out, but is live on BT Sport in the UK.
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