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Brendan Rodgers Speaks Out On Arsenal’s Suarez Bid

By on July 18, 2013

Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers has had his say on Arsenal’s bid for Luis Suarez and if you read between the lines, he all-but confirms the striker can leave if the price is right.

We made an official move for the controversial Uruguayan last week, as confirmed by Liverpool MD Ian Ayre, which was believed to be in the region of £30m. The Reds rejected the bid immediately but reports claim we’re planning on going back with an improved bid which should be closer to the £40m mark.

Rodgers was quizzed on the future of the 26-year-old today and he spouted off the usual lines saying the player isn’t for sale, he has three years on his contract and he’s looking forward to working with him, etc. Nothing you wouldn’t expect. These are all routine answers, as he’s never going to come out and say anything else. Rodgers also confirmed Arsenal’s bid but reiterated it didn’t meet his valuation:

‘He is a wonderful player, and he is still very much a Liverpool player. No matter who the player is, nobody is bigger than Liverpool Football Club.

‘Luis is a very important member of this squad and I am looking forward to working with him again this season. There has been lots of speculation about Luis moving to another club but, as I said, he is very much a Liverpool player.

‘We had an offer that was nowhere near what we value him at. Of course he wants to work and play at the top level. But unless something drastic happens, he will be staying here. He has got three years left on his contract.’ Rodgers is quoted as saying by the Daily Mail

The interesting lines for me are:

  • “nobody is bigger than Liverpool Football Club” – was there any need to say this? I feel it was a dig at Suarez.
  • “nowhere near what we value him at” – gives the impression Liverpool have a valuation in mind. If Suarez was strictly not for sale, Rodgers would have said that instead of saying we didn’t meet their valuation.
  • “unless something drastic happens” – like you receiving a suitable offer? Or perhaps the player handing in a transfer request?

Reading between the lines, I think the message from Rodgers is this:

We want Suarez to stay but no player is bigger than LFC so if he hand’s in a transfer request and we get a suitable offer, he’ll be sold.

I’m sure Liverpool fans, and maybe Arsenal fans too, will disagree, but this is what I took from Rodgers comments and I think this is the stance Liverpool are taking with the while situation. They won’t want a disruptive influence in the dressing room, no matter how talented he is, so if they can get an offer in excess of £40m they’ll give it serious consideration. No doubt they’ll hope Madrid will come in as they won’t want to sell to a domestic rival, but the Spaniard’s are yet to make any formal offer.

Things will get really interesting on Monday when Suarez is due to meet up with the rest of the Liverpool squad in Australia. Will Rodgers be able to convince him to stay? Will Suarez walk in an hand in a written transfer request? Or will this saga just drag on right until the final days of the window? Watch this space…

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What do you make of Rodgers comments? Will Suarez end up at Arsenal?

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