Liverpool striker Luis Suarez wants to hold talks with Arsenal over a potential move to the London club.
Suarez believes Arsenal's offer of just over £40m -
which was rejected - triggered a clause in his contract that allows him
to speak to suitors.
Liverpool interpret the clause differently, but the
26-year-old will inform Reds boss Brendan Rodgers of his wish to meet
with Arsenal.
The Anfield side have now
turned down two offers
from the Gunners.
But with Real Madrid forward Gonzalo Higuain, another
of their targets, reportedly set to complete a move to Napoli, Arsenal
will put all of their efforts into signing Suarez.
Suarez in numbers
- 30 goals in 44 appearances for Liverpool last season
- Since joining from Ajax in January 2011 for £22.7m, has scored 51 in 96 appearances
- 49 goals in 48 games for Ajax the season before joining Liverpool
- 31 goals in 62 appearances for Uruguay
Following Arsenal's most recent approach, a post on Liverpool owner
John Henry's Twitter page
read: "What do you think they're smoking over there at Emirates?"
It is unclear whether Henry is talking about Arsenal's attempts to sign Suarez or their valuation of the player.
The Gunners' unusual bid of £40,000,001 was designed to
trigger the clause in the player's contract that stipulates Liverpool
must consider any offer in excess of £40m and give Suarez the option of
talking to the club - but the Reds do not have to sell.
While Liverpool remain
determined to keep their prized asset,
who scored 30 goals for the club in 44 appearances last season,
their resolve is likely to be tested if the bidding continues to rise.
Real Madrid remain interested in the Uruguayan but have yet to make a formal offer.
Arsenal are waiting to learn the outcome of the
striker's meeting with Rodgers on Liverpool's pre-season tour to
Australia before deciding how to proceed.
Suarez could make his first appearance for the Reds
this summer on Wednesday, after being named among the substitutes for
the friendly against Melbourne Victory.
Should Arsenal persist and have an improved bid
accepted, it could come close to trebling their previous highest initial
outlay on a transfer.
Arsenal's record buys
- Jose Antonio Reyes (Seville) £17.5m
- Santi Cazorla (Malaga) £16m
- Andrey Arshavin (Zenit St Petersburg) £15m
- Sylvain Wiltord (Bordeaux) £13m
- Thierry Henry (Juventus) £11m
The Gunners, whose first offer for Suarez was £30m, paid a reported £15m
to Zenit St Petersburg for Andrey Arshavin,
in January 2009.
Rodgers last week said he considered Suarez to be at least as valuable as Edinson Cavani, who recently
joined Paris St-Germain for £55m.
Suarez
joined Liverpool in Australia
at the weekend after flying to Melbourne from Montevideo on Sunday,
having been given extended leave by the Reds following the
Confederations Cup.
He
wants to leave Anfield to play for a Champions League club
despite only signing a
new long-term deal last summer.
Speculation has grown about Suarez's future since he was
punished with a 10-game ban at the end of April
for biting Chelsea's Branislav Ivanovic.
The striker still has to serve six games of that suspension and was also banned in 2011 after being found guilty of
racially abusing Manchester United's Patrice Evra.
Suarez joined Liverpool from Ajax in January 2011 in a £22.7m deal.
