Luis Suarez’ agent, Pere Guardiola, has held further talks over the striker’s future with Liverpool after Arsenal had a €34 million offer rejected for the Uruguay international.
The player’s representative travelled to Merseyside yesterday to seek clarification on Liverpool’s position regarding their leading striker from the manager, Brendan Rodgers, and the chief executive, Ian Ayre.
Despite interest from Real Madrid, Suarez’ 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.
Liverpool remain adamant that Suarez is not for sale and any suitor would have to offer over €58 million. That resolve may harden with their leading transfer target for the summer, Henrikh Mkhitaryan, close to joining the Champions League runners-up Borussia Dortmund from Shakhtar Donetsk, and they gave no consideration to Arsenal's audacious attempt to entice Suarez to the Emirates Stadium.
Approach rejected
The approach was rejected out of hand by Liverpool, who would also be loth to sell the 26-year-old to a Premier League rival.
Suarez has three years remaining on his contract and Arsenal’s inquiry may have been a tactic to show Real Madrid they have more transfer targets than Gonzalo Higuain.
Arsenal’s long-standing pursuit of their principal target has been further frustrated after it emerged Madrid still hope to convince the striker he has a future at the Bernabeu. Carlo Ancelotti intends to speak with Higuain next Monday when he reports back for training.
Everton are prepared for a second bid from Manchester United for their left-back Leighton Baines having completed the first signing of the Roberto Martinez era in Arouna Kone.
Everton have signed the Ivory Coast striker Kone on a three-year deal for an undisclosed fee from Wigan.
United had an offer in the region of €11.5 million rejected for Baines last month and there has been no further contact between the clubs since. United, however, are believed to be close to making an improved offer for the England international, albeit one that remains below Everton's €23 million valuation.
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Emmet Malone writes: Republic of Ireland defender Paul McShane (27) has signed a new two-year deal with promoted Hull City.
“When we got relegated from the top flight in 2010, it was always my aim to get back up. I’ll admit there were times when I didn’t think it would happen, but we had such a great season last year and now I’ve got the opportunity to play up there again,” McShane said.
