Arsenal set to up bid for Liverpool's Luis Suarez to £42.5m

LIVERPOOL are bracing themselves for another offer from Arsenal for unsettled striker Luis Suarez - as Arsene Wenger tries to push through a deal for the Uruguayan.

Wenger is hopeful of luring Suarez to the Emirates this summer, having allowed Real Madrid
striker Gonzalo Higuain to join Napoli in order to focus on signing the controversial 26-year-old.

Suarez is thought to prefer a switch abroad to the Bernabeu, but with no firm interest from the Spanish giants Arsenal are set to make a third bid of £42.5million.

Liverpool were outraged at the Gunners last offer of £40,000,001 - made to test a £40m clause in the marksman's contract - after opening the bidding at £30m.

Suarez could be on his way out of Liverpool

We are ready to do quick deals but all the transfers do not depend only on us

Arsene Wenger

While Express Sport understands that Anfield chiefs will only sanction Suarez's departure for £50m-plus, Wenger is hopeful of tying up a cheaper deal soon.

"We are ready to do quick deals but all the transfers do not depend only on us," said Wenger.

"But we are prepared to wait. It looks unlikely before the Emirates Cup (next weekend).

"We still have a strong squad but we are there on the market to try to strengthen our team. With or without additions we can be title challengers next season."

 
Wave Goodbye? The Uruguayan acknowledges the crowd during a game against Thailand

Wenger was not impressed with Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers' claim that Arsenal would not represent a step up for Suarez, were he to join the North-London outfit.

But the Frenchman refused to get into a war-of-words with Rodgers over Suarez, before going on to admit that he was not close to announcing a new signing.

"He must explain that," Wenger said. "I don't know. We are not close to signing Suarez or anybody else so there's no reason why I should talk about it.

"There is nothing to say. I have been away now for two or the weeks and it's hard to see how things are advanced because everyone is on tour at the moment and it's very difficult to get in touch with people.

Wenger was not happy with Brendan Rodgers' comments about Suarez potentially joining Arsenal

...but the Frenchman admitted Arsenal were not close to any new signings

"I believe that every club competes on a very high level. What has changed recently is that in Europe some countries like France suddenly have bought some very very talented players who two or three years ago would all have come to England. It makes the chase for talent very difficult.

"What we want is not as name but as good player. The name is less important. What is more important is the quality of the player. At the moment I must tell you we are not close to signing anybody.

"We try to do the job and we will try to do it well. But that is in front of us. We have worked a lot but nothing has been concluded with anybody.

"Of course we want to do as many top players as we can. But we also have to focus on the players we have and develop them. We have plenty of candidates in midfield now and there is a big fight there. Bacary Sagna settles in well at centre-back with Thomas Vermaelen out."