Real Madrid will trigger the latest saga in Luis Suarez‘s colourful career by bidding around £76million for the Liverpool striker.
The Anfield club, who will complete a deal for Emre Can from Bayer Leverkusen on Thursday, have been bracing themselves for this to begin and have given out clear signals that the player is not for sale.
The player himself has said that there is nothing to be concerned about because he is happy on Merseyside and the club is going in the right direction.
However, even those close to the 27-year-old admit they can’t say for sure what his final answer will be if Madrid keep increasing the mark on their bid. Last year Liverpool showed admirable resolve to keep their man out of Arsenal’s clutches and Brendan Rodgers admitted it was his greatest test as a manager to turn around what at one stage seemed an irretrievable stance from Suarez.
He did it with such aplomb that the Uruguayan hugged him in recognition after receiving his PFA Player of the Year award last month. Yet Real Madrid are a greater proposition than Arsenal. The prospect of lining up with Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo in a stable of Galacticos is bound to appeal and they have the financial clout to make deals happen.