Luis Suarez: Why Liverpool Should Ensure Striker Moves Away from Premier League

Liverpool forward Luis Suarez has been surrounded by speculation since the start of summer over whether he would continue to be a Red for next season, and the first serious move for his signature came on Monday.

It was not, as expected, from Real Madrid though, with Phil McNulty from the BBC reporting that Arsenal had made a £30 million offer for the Uruguayan attacker.

The bid was summarily rejected by the club, which has made clear its position that Suarez is not for sale, and in any case, it is widely expected that it will not consider any bids below £40 or £45 million.

Liverpool were right of course, from their point of view, to reject the bid from Arsenal—and they should do all they possibly can to ensure that if Suarez does leave this summer, he leaves the Premier League entirely.

Suarez's Argument of the English Media

One of Suarez's own repetitive statements this summer has revolved around his perceived treatment from the English media. As per ESPN:

"

Ever since I arrived I have felt bad, they have never judged me for my play but with the attitude that he dives, protests, makes gestures, racism - everything. They have never spoken well of me. For that reason, when I was told I could win the Player of the Year award, I said: 'I will not get excited as I know that I will never win an important award in England.

"

With that in mind, there is little to suggest that if he wants to leave the Reds, it should be to join another club in the English top flight, where he will be subject to the same scrutiny, the same questions, the same people writing about him as he has now at Liverpool.

It will not be any different in Manchester or London, so where would be the logic in merely leaving Anfield for another destination elsewhere in England?

Strengthen the Team, Not a Rival

Far more important to the Liverpool cause will be the idea that if they sell Suarez, it should be to reinvest significant funds in the team and try to catch up with the clubs above them in terms of on-pitch quality.

That task will be made all the more harder if the Reds go out and strengthen their rivals by letting their best attacker join them.

Whether Chelsea, Arsenal or Manchester City, Suarez would be a better forward than any have to offer right now, certainly going by last season's form, and it would be disastrous to Liverpool's attempts to overhaul any of those teams to let the Uruguayan star in their own forward lines.

If Suarez joins Real Madrid or some other foreign-based club, the Reds won't have to worry about playing against him for at least a year, and it will leave rival English clubs to search elsewhere to bolster their forward line.

Few Premier League Teams with the Money to Sign Suarez

The aforementioned three clubs are likely the only Premier League teams with the money to be able to sign Suarez, even if he were available at the £40 million mark or so.

Even Arsenal might be a push then, though it is expected they will spend significantly this summer.

Manchester United might also be able to afford him, but Suarez from Liverpool to United is one deal that would no sooner happen than Alex Ferguson coming out of retirement to be Brendan Rodgers' assistant next term.

With only those few clubs capable of providing the financial muscle to pull Suarez from Liverpool, the Reds should be seeking external buyers if any move must go ahead. Real Madrid, Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich and Monaco would all be able to come up with the funds, though the tactical fit of Suarez in any of those teams is up for debate of course.

There are certainly, in any case, more teams from outside the Premier League who could provide potential destinations, and all would hurt the Reds far less in the immediate term than selling Luis Suarez to a club in direct competition with Liverpool next season.

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