Steven Gerrard is confident Liverpool will not let Luis Suarez join Arsenal.
The Uruguayan international is determined to force a transfer from Anfield during the summer transfer window, despite the loyalty the Merseyside club have shown him during his spell in England. Not only did they stand by him after he was found guilty of racially abusing Manchester United’s Patrice Evra, but they also offered him support despite biting Chelsea’s Branislav Ivanovic to receive another lengthy suspension.
Suarez is eager to play in the UEFA Champions League this season, and Arsene Wenger is prepared to offer him such a platform. The Gunners coach has already failed with one offer of £40million, but he is expected to return with an improved bid before the 2 September deadline. However, Gerrard is confident that his club will simply refuse to sell their star player to a side they aim to overtake in the Premier League standings.
“If I can use my influence to try to make him stay I will try to do that, for Liverpool to move forward it’s important we keep our best players,” said Gerrard, who was speaking ahead of England’s friendly with Scotland at Wembley Stadium on Wednesday evening. “I’m really confident he won’t be going to anyone else in England.”
It remains to be seen what role Suarez will have for Liverpool in the coming season. Brendan Rodgers has called for the 26-year-old to apologise for his attitude of late, which culminated in him accusing the club of reneging on an agreement to let him leave this summer. One thing which is for sure is that the former Ajax man will have no involvement in the first six matches, as he sits out the remainder of his ban for biting Ivanovic.
