Ian Rush has said the words no Liverpool fan wants to hear: Luis Suarez could be sold in the summer.
The striker has been in fine form this season, topping the Premier League scoring charts with an incredible 19 goals by the turn of the year, making Brendan Rodgers’ men title contenders.
But Rush, Liverpool’s record goalscorer with 346, admitted that if the Merseyside club don’t make the top four this year then the Uruguayan could be sold… for £120million.
Stunning form: Luis Suarez has proved himself as one of the best strikers in the world with his Premier League goals this season
Release clause: But Anfield legend Ian Rush says that if the club don’t get Champions League than he could leave in a world record deal of £120million
So, would he be worth the cash?
Luis Suarez has been the best Premier League player this year by far, but £120million blows a world-record fee out of the water.
Is he the best player in the world? No. Could he be? It’s doubtful.
At the age of 24, Real Madrid saw potential in Gareth Bale, in the marketing world as much as on the football pitch.
Suarez is two years older at 26, and has a much more chequered past, so clubs may be reticent to stump up the cash.
‘If we don’t qualify for the Champions League he can leave, provided a club make an offer according to the player’s value,’ the 53-year-old told Tuttosport. ‘When we renewed Luis’ contract, we put in a clause of £120m.
‘If Gareth Bale went to Real Madrid for £86m, why should we not ask more for Suarez?’
The ‘gentleman’s agreement’ with Pere Guardiola, brother of Bayern coach Pep and Suarez’s agent, sounds remarkably similar to the supposed clause in his last contract.
Arsenal believed a bid of over £40m would secure his service in the summer – cheekily offering the fee plus £1 – but no such deal took place despite Suarez trying to force one through.
Few clubs could afford a fee three times that price, but if Suarez was to keep up his stellar form, the likes of Real Madrid will surely be inclined to take a look.
Fan favourite: Despite expressing his wishes to leave in the summer, the Liverpool fans have stuck by their man and he has since signed a new contract confessing his love for the club
