Liverpool: Rodgers Should Look to Swap, Not Sell Luis Suarez

Brendan Rodgers may fetch a high fee for the want-away striker, but his inability to turn cash into a player of Suarez's ability means that a swap may be the better option.

It is no secret that Liverpool, having missed out on European competition this coming season, have a hard time convincing top talent to sign up.

As reported by Pete O'Rourke of Sky Sports, top players like Henrikh Mkhitaryan have been publicly warned against joining clubs of such low stature, despite their illustrious history.

So rather than demanding £55 million for Suarez—Rodgers' valuation, according to ESPN—Liverpool should seek to arrange for the trade of a top-class player.

Arsenal are the only team to have made an official bid for Suarez, and they certainly have talent that would make Suarez's exit more palatable to Liverpool.

Santi Cazorla, for instance, would almost be worth a flat-out trade. Moving Cazorla to Liverpool would also open up a Cesc Fabregas-sized hole in midfield.

With Sky Sports suggesting that Arsene Wenger possesses first negotiation rights with the playmaker, what could be sweeter to the Gunner faithful than bringing in two superstars—one at the expense of Manchester United?

Real Madrid can also offer major talent in exchange for the services of the Uruguayan.

There's Arsenal target, Gonzalo Higuain, should Liverpool want another striker. Madrid also have a great left-back in Marcelo. That is a position Rodgers is looking to strengthen, as evidenced by the Daily Express' Ben Jefferson writing that the manager is interested in Valencia left-back Aly Cissokho.

Obviously, there are more than a few possibilities once you start to consider swap-plus-cash deals.

Liverpool could stand to improve at just about every position and still have a use for cash to sign promising players looking to make a name for themselves.

The point is this: Since they can't sign a Suarez-caliber player outright, they should trade for one.