Last summer, Liverpool summarily dismissed Arsenal's £40m plus £1 offer for top striker Luis Suarez, and given the Uruguayan's amazing season at Anfield, Gunners boss Arsene Wenger is probably still rueing his failure to seal the deal. Could Arsenal come in for Suarez again this summer? No chance, claims Gunners legend Ray Parlour.
In March, Liverpool owner John W. Henry confirmed Suarez's release clause, when he told reporters:
"Arsenal offered £40million and one pound for him and triggered his [Suarez's] buy-out clause.
"Contracts don't mean a lot in England, so we took the position we're just not selling"
When asked this week about the possibility of Arsenal going back in for Suarez in the upcoming transfer window, Parlour told mused:
"Suarez, I think he has probably trebled in price. I don't think they [Liverpool] will ever sell him to Arsenal."
£120m? For me, no player is worth that much, but in the twisted fantasy world of football, the Uruguayan probably is worth that much, but whether any club will actually pay that much is a different story.
If a club comes in with such a massive offer, should Liverpool sell? John Henry et al are, first and foremost, businessmen, and if Real Madrid offer over £100m, I have no doubt that Liverpool's owners will sell, especially with the Anfield upgrade to finance.
Suarez claims he's happy at Liverpool, and speaking to Sky Sports News last night, he reiterated:
"I signed the contract because I love it here and I'm so happy here. If you're not happy here you don't sign any contract"
Hmmm. Where have we heard that before?
March 2012: "I want to stay and I am very happy here. There are a good few years left on my contract and I want to carry on enjoying myself because both my family and I feel really happy here"
FEB 2013: Brendan Rodgers relays Suarez's alleged wishes - “I had a great conversation with his [Suarez's] agent a couple of weeks ago. He came in and rolled it out that he was so happy here and he was keen over the next couple of years for the club to progress"
FEB 2013: "I want to say now that, if you want to know what will happen to me if we don't qualify for the Champions League, then I will say this: I have a contract with Liverpool and I am very happy here. I will stay".
Fast forward and a few months, and Suarez had mysteriously changed his mind:
MAY 2013: "My reason for leaving is my family and my image, I don't feel comfortable here any more"
AUG 2013: "I need to be playing in the Champions League. I feel I have done enough to be playing in the Champions League at this stage of my career. Now there is an option for me to do that and I want very much to take it"
Suarez is a genius player, and I love watching him play, but forgive me if I'm wary of anything he says about his alleged commitment to Liverpool FC.
If Suarez is still at the club on September 1st, then I'll believe that he's 'happy' at Anfield.
Author: Jaimie K
In March, Liverpool owner John W. Henry confirmed Suarez's release clause, when he told reporters:
"Arsenal offered £40million and one pound for him and triggered his [Suarez's] buy-out clause.
"Contracts don't mean a lot in England, so we took the position we're just not selling"
When asked this week about the possibility of Arsenal going back in for Suarez in the upcoming transfer window, Parlour told mused:
"Suarez, I think he has probably trebled in price. I don't think they [Liverpool] will ever sell him to Arsenal."
£120m? For me, no player is worth that much, but in the twisted fantasy world of football, the Uruguayan probably is worth that much, but whether any club will actually pay that much is a different story.
If a club comes in with such a massive offer, should Liverpool sell? John Henry et al are, first and foremost, businessmen, and if Real Madrid offer over £100m, I have no doubt that Liverpool's owners will sell, especially with the Anfield upgrade to finance.
Suarez claims he's happy at Liverpool, and speaking to Sky Sports News last night, he reiterated:
"I signed the contract because I love it here and I'm so happy here. If you're not happy here you don't sign any contract"
Hmmm. Where have we heard that before?
March 2012: "I want to stay and I am very happy here. There are a good few years left on my contract and I want to carry on enjoying myself because both my family and I feel really happy here"
FEB 2013: Brendan Rodgers relays Suarez's alleged wishes - “I had a great conversation with his [Suarez's] agent a couple of weeks ago. He came in and rolled it out that he was so happy here and he was keen over the next couple of years for the club to progress"
FEB 2013: "I want to say now that, if you want to know what will happen to me if we don't qualify for the Champions League, then I will say this: I have a contract with Liverpool and I am very happy here. I will stay".
Fast forward and a few months, and Suarez had mysteriously changed his mind:
MAY 2013: "My reason for leaving is my family and my image, I don't feel comfortable here any more"
AUG 2013: "I need to be playing in the Champions League. I feel I have done enough to be playing in the Champions League at this stage of my career. Now there is an option for me to do that and I want very much to take it"
Suarez is a genius player, and I love watching him play, but forgive me if I'm wary of anything he says about his alleged commitment to Liverpool FC.
If Suarez is still at the club on September 1st, then I'll believe that he's 'happy' at Anfield.
Author: Jaimie K
He's probably at the peak of his value now (unless he has an outstanding World Cup) and he will inevitably leave, I think, so you could make an argument for selling him.
ReplyDeletePersonally though, I would keep him. The stability gotten from keeping him and tying down a Champions League place is more important than the value he might lose over the next year. He could of course become more valuable, but I doubt that.
Spurs proved that you don't get better by selling your best player.
ReplyDeleteWhatever we could sell him for, whether it's 70m, 100m, or 120m, but the quality we'll lose is most likely not able to be replaced.
No chance!
ReplyDeletePersonally I will keep him, but his value is now probably at the peak.
ReplyDeleteOn other side, for 100-120m you can buy lot of quality players, eg. 1 player for 30m, 1 player for 20, 2 for 15 and rest of money invest in other fields. With that money and money from selling of eg. Lucas, Agger... LFC can made step forward and fix problems in team. Of course if BR don't spend that money on new Allen, Iaspas or Borini.
Spurs!!!
ReplyDeleteThere was the biting incident in between this two quotes, which may have encouraged him to leave. I really hope he stays, but if he actually wants to go, I would not begrudge him one bit. Not only is he a brilliant footballer who always gives 100%, but he never seems to get injured despite all the kicks he gets. I genuinely believe he is currently the best player in the world and when he pulls on the red shirt we are capable of beating anyone.
ReplyDeleteThere is absolutely no reason why we should sell one of the best players in the world.
ReplyDeleteYes, you are right about Spurs. But Henry is first businessman and he will look at the profit, IMO.
ReplyDeleteI don't know did owners still follow moneyball policy, but if they do, Suarez will be sold for that amount. 27 years old, on peak of his value, moneyball says SELL.
If he's genuinely happy he'll stay and we'll reap the benefits of his talent. If not and he wants to go but we can command a fee of 100+ million then we'll be well compensated as possible and in the strongest possible position to find an able replacement. I don't think we would repeat the Andy Carroll mistake these days and I think having seen what's gone on at spurs we'd be wise enough to avoid the same mistakes
ReplyDeleteHow many goals did moneyball score last season???
ReplyDeleteMoneyball is not about selling players for a profit so you have been misinformed. Moneyball is referred to as soccernomics in football and left Anfield when Comolli was sacked.
ReplyDeleteProbably you are right.
ReplyDeleteHow many goals will Suarez score next season?
ReplyDeleteMore than moneyball......................LOL.
ReplyDelete:))))
ReplyDeleteAsk any fan if they'd like Liverpool to go out and spend 100 million pounds on Messi or Ronaldo. Aside from the silliness of the amount of money, if we could afford it and it could happen I doubt there would be anyone who would be unhappy with it. It would be great for the club, it would be a massive sign in terms of our ambitions and it would unquestionably make us better. It would be an all round good move.
ReplyDeleteSelling Suarez for that same amount of money is the opposite of doing what I just described. It would weaken us as a team, it would be a sign that the club is more interested in money that winning and it would all-round be bad for Liverpool.
People get distracted by money, as if there is some value large enough where it makes sense as a football club to sell your best player. It never makes sense from a football point of view, only a business point of view. Only a business man would choose the money over the player and the club would pay the price. What happened to Spurs was no accident, it wasn't just bad luck. It's just the reality of transfers: no matter how much you have to spend, they are a risky prospect and you should EXPECT some degree of failure. To have something that you know works and swap it for something else that has no guarantees ... very often that just fails.
Luis Suarez is proven and he is as close to a guarantee as you get in this game. It's as sure as it possibly could be that he'll get 20+ goals next season. There has never been a surer bet, there never will be. Any other move is more risky and more prone to failure. Any other player except Messi or Ronaldo would be a comparative risk. So to me the idea of taking that risk is just stupid. I don't think FSG are that stupid and I don't think even 100 million pounds would make them re-think their strategy. The only person who would ultimately agree to Suarez leaving the club is Suarez. If he wants it badly enough then the club may have no choice. Otherwise he's going no where, at no price.
Bravo.
ReplyDeleteI'm not trying to be smart, It comes down to having the best now, how do you replace the best????.
ReplyDeleteWe will see in September. If Real put 100m on table, FSG can accept or decline offer, but like you said, if Suarez want to leave LFC nothing can stop him.
ReplyDeleteThere is few football players in the world who will say No to Real Madrid. And we must not forget that Suarez is from Uruguay and Real Madrid like Barcelona are very popular in South America.
I hope that he will stay, but if he decline possible Madrid offer, it will be great sign that he trust FSG and Brendan Rodgers.
errrrrr one reason matey is if he wants to be sold
ReplyDeleteshit im so desperate for football im actually gonna watch the FA Cup
ReplyDeleteBarcelona - Atletico Madrid, title decider.
ReplyDeleteStart of the match.
It is very hard to replace the best.
ReplyDeleteOnly hope is that you develop replacement trough youth system or buy some new "Suarez" for 22m.
off topic guys ur thoughts on the latest net rumours linking us with 40mil moves for lallana and lovren? surely not for that amount ryt?
ReplyDeleteI've said it before, IF we get a bid of excess of a £100mil then I would not be in surprised or disappointed if we sold Suarez.
ReplyDeleteOf course I would love him to stay, he is an amazing player, one of the best in the world currently, but no player is bigger then the club.
With FFP rules in mind, £100mil + what ever the current transfer kitty is + any additional revenue made by selling players, all to reinvest in the squad is a hell of an opportunity.
No, what spurs has proved is that it takes time for a squad to gel, that is all.
ReplyDeleteIf you look at the stats Sherwood has the best win percentage of any Spurs manager in something like 10 years.
I agree with you but looking at spurs failure id rather stick with we have and build on it..
ReplyDeleteI know Lovren since he play in Croatia. He was always error prone, especially in Lyon. He play very good season in Southampton, but I don't trust him.
ReplyDeleteLallana for max. 15m. I think that 25m is too much, and that for that money LFC can buy better player
But Soldado and Lamela who cost £50m combined have not shown any signs that they are going to make it in the EPL.
ReplyDeleteYou would have thought that these two players would at least bring a minimum of 15 goals combined?
Spurs have not replaced Bale with the money from his sale instead made a complete hash of things in the last transfer window.
That is what he wanted last season and we did not give in.
ReplyDeletetrue but this time im believing in his words that he wants to stay he played his heart out and showed lots of emotion...but then again u never knw
ReplyDeletehe wanted to leave right when arsenal made the offer yet FSG didn't allow it so you cant say nothing can stop him even if it was a whisper in his ear from gerrard..I just believe that he fought so hard this year and getting so close to winning the league plus CL will keep him with us
ReplyDeleteReal Madrid is not same level with Arsenal, so I think that he will be interested. Like I said, there is few football players in the world who will say No to Real Madrid.
ReplyDeleteFSG will try to keep him, but anybody has a price.
His value now is on peak, and from business point of view FSG will think about that.
Spurs last season sold bale for £85m who scored 21 EPL goals for them the previous season.
ReplyDeleteEriksen, Lamela, Paulinho, Soldado and Chadli combined £87m only manged 20 EPL goals between them.
Still a good idea to sell Suarez if a offer of £100m came in?
im sure theyd think about it but at same time they know we are in the CL so we need world class players and I think that this alone will keep suarez at lfc ..we dnt need to sell him then buy so many new players in a CL season
ReplyDeletespot on!!
ReplyDeleteYes because what happened at spurs doesn't mean it will happen elsewhere.
ReplyDeleteYou could argue a better manager would of gotten a lot more out of those players.
I disagree. Spending £100m is one thing but replacing 31 goals is a totally different story.
ReplyDeleteSoldado in a team that plays like us and I would put money on that he breaks 20 goals in a season.
ReplyDeleteIt doesn't how good a striker you are, if the manager decides to use tactics which are not suited to your strengths you are going to struggle.
Soldado for me was always more of poacher, but at spurs he spent more time outside the penalty box trying to get the ball.
I am not saying you can replace like for like, there are some players were that is impossible, however what you can do is replace that 30+ goal striker with 2 that might get you 20+ and another couple of other players.
ReplyDeleteI would always prefer having 3 strikers who are all capable of getting you 20+ goals as well as a few very good 1st team players over 1 special player.
In order for all 3 to score 20+ they have to feature in almost all the matches. It just is not that simple.
ReplyDeleteLuis Suarez wins UEFA (Golden Boot), jointly with Ronaldo.
ReplyDeleteHis mind "mysteriously" changed? Clearly, I must have imagined him biting Ivanovic!
ReplyDeleteFootball is a dog-eat-dog business where there is no such thing as undying loyalty. I am afraid one club players like Steven Gerrard who genuinely love their club are a dying breed. Yes, every player has a price so if someone offers £100 million I would accept that reinvest it in the side.
ReplyDeleteIMO Soldado will be back in Spain sooner or later. Same with Aspas and Negredo who both had great seasons in La Liga before they came to the EPL and unfortunately all three have been nothing but average.
ReplyDeleteBut we already have quality attacking players. Sturridge, Coutinho and Sterling are still young and can only get better.
ReplyDeleteIt would be very daft to sell Suarez when all we need is quality in depth. If we had to add Lallana and a player like Shaqiri then our attack is sorted.
Sturridge, Coutinho, Sterling, Borini, Lallana, Shaqiri and Suarez.
I really do not see the point in selling Suarez and trying to overhaul our attack when no overhaul is required.
Rumour has it that Suarez has enrolled his daughter in a Merseyside school. If true then that will put an end to rumours of him leaving.
ReplyDeleteYes, Negredo got 26 goals and 6 assists in his debut season. A really average return. What a rubbish player.
ReplyDeleteI am referring to EPL.
ReplyDelete