Arsenal to up bid from £30m to £35m for coveted South American forward in order to sign their top transfer target.
Having already had a £30 million bid rejected, Arsenal are set to increase their offer for Liverpool forward Luis Suarez to £35 million according to the London Evening Standard.
“Suarez? As you know the transfer period demands secrets and confidentiality, so I can’t answer the question,” smiled Gunners boss Arsene Wenger when asked about the bid on the north London team’s Asian tour.
Whilst Suarez has not submitted an official transfer request to the Reds, the Uruguayan has publicly stated his desire to leave Anfield on multiple occasions, openly flirting with a move to Real Madrid in particular.
Given Suarez’s explanation for wanting to leave Liverpool was a deemed victimisation and persecution by the English press, it was perhaps a surprise that he did not dismiss the prospect of moving to Arsenal, but instead the 26 year-old appeared flattered upon hearing of the Gunners’ interest.
“It is good to know I’m still valued by teams like Arsenal,” Suarez is quoted by the Daily Express as telling Uruguayan radio station Sport 890.
“Friends call me up to ask if I am moving to Chelsea, to which I laugh. The important thing in the market, whatever else has happened, is for teams to continue to value me for what I’ve done as a player on the pitch.
“It is not one club at the moment, there are lots of options.”
Suarez’s tenacity and sheer will to win would be a great addition to the Arsenal attack, and his consistent pressing of opposition defences enables his sides to win the ball back high up the pitch.
A wonderful creator and finisher, Suarez makes many of his own chances through his remarkable dribbling abilities.
23 goals in 33 top flight games indicates just how potent a forward the 26 year-old is, and with 13 of those coming with his right foot, 5 with his less marginally less favoured left, 3 headers and 2 free kicks, his abilities as an all round striker are clear.
There is a darker side to Suarez, with that will to win resulting in a number of moments of controversy, but if judged purely on his abilities on the pitch, he would almost certainly be a success.
A £35m price tag would mean that any prospective deal would smash Arsenal’s previous transfer record by around £20m.
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