Gareth Bale and Luis Suarez: Who Is the Better Player?

"You only need to look at the market, and when you compare £40,000,001 and then Gareth Bale with nine figures," Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers commented this weekend to Goal.com as he discussed the constant rumors linking Luis Suarez with a move to Arsenal.

Despite the Reds' refusal to sell thus far this summer, the Gunners' interest hasn't waned in the Uruguayan frontman according to the Daily Mail. The Daily Telegraph, meanwhile, reports Tottenham Hotspur's Gareth Bale is the subject of a £100 million bid from Real Madrid, sparking Rodgers' comparison.

"Bale and Suarez were arguably the two best players in the Premier League last year, so you can't say Bale is valued at over 100 per cent more," the Northern Irishman added.

Well, Rodgers has his view, but does he have a point? All this talk of big-money moves and transfer fees has got Bleacher Report thinking—who is the best player out of Luis Suarez and Gareth Bale?

Who is worth more and who will give better value for money should they leave their current clubs for pastures new this summer?

These are big questions that need answering so, wearing our caps of impartiality, we've split Bale and Suarez's attributes into four categories below, giving our verdict on each.

Goals

Luis Suarez found the back of the net 30 times in 44 appearances for Liverpool last season—a return of 0.68 goals per game. Gareth Bale scored 26 goals in 45 games, giving him an average of 0.57 goals per game over the course of the season.

With Suarez's higher tally, he is far more prolific than Bale, which is to be expected given the Uruguayan's role as a striker. He also scored a marginally higher percentage of his team's goals in the Premier League (32 percent) compared to Bale's (31 percent) return for Spurs.

Verdict: As the striker, Suarez rules the roost in the goals compartment and has a proven track record of finding the back of the net regularly.

Age

Suarez will be 27 in January next year and in terms of his shelf life as a player, will be entering his peak. Should Arsenal buy him this summer, they'll be bringing in a player at the height of his ability, with at least three years ahead of him before any form of decline is expected to traditionally set in.

Bale is two-and-a-half years Suarez's junior, though, and is a few seasons away from his peak years, despite his excellent form. Any sort of investment in the Welshman right now should be paying dividends for at least six years, injury permitting.

Reflecting upon that alone, the reported £100 million fee Real are willing to pay works out at £16.6 million per season until he reaches 30. Arsenal's investment in Suarez would equal £13.3 million.

Verdict: Despite the astronomical figures being discussed, the more youthful Bale is a better investment when breaking down the transfer fee on a season-by-season basis up to his 30th birthday. The value may be slightly higher than Suarez's yearly cost, but stretching the fee over six years represents more long-term thinking. Given his relative youth in comparison to Suarez, it means Madrid are also in a better position to recoup some of their transfer fee should they decide to offload Bale further down the line.

Contribution

Goals are obviously a big deal for any football team. We know how they fare scoring them, but what of Bale and Suarez's contribution to their teammates and the collective interests of Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool respectively?

Suarez spent more time on the receiving end of crosses and passes from his teammates last term, grabbing just five assists, all of which came in the Premier League. Bale recorded 10 assists.

Verdict: Playing farther back than Suarez in an attacking midfield role, it's expected that Bale would record more assists for his teammates than the Uruguayan. With 10 to his name last term, however, it means the 24-year-old was worth 36 goals to his team, while Suarez was worth 35. The margins are fine, but Bale comes out on top in this regard.

Image

First and foremost, players are signed for their ability on the field. When considering the sums being discussed where Bale and Suarez are concerned, the notion of a player's image and their reputation will certainly play a part in the modern era as club's look for a return on their investment.

Where his character is concerned, Suarez has a poor track record and is playing the role of pantomime villain a little too well.

Currently serving a 10-game ban for biting Chelsea's Branislav Ivanovic last season, Suarez was also issued a seven-match ban for a similar offense in Holland in 2010 while playing for Ajax. He was also found guilty of racially abusing Patrice Evra in 2011, being banned for eight games by The FA.

In the 2010 World Cup, his deliberate handball on the goal line may have seen Ghana awarded a late penalty in extra time, but with Asamoah Gyan missing from 12 yards, Suarez's celebrations on the touchline saw him come in for heavy criticism. Uruguay later won the subsequent penalty shootout 4-2 to advance to the semifinal.

In contrast, Bale maintains a squeaky clean image and is rarely in the news for non-footballing reasons. He has been accused of diving in the past (via Daily Mail), but when it comes to attracting sponsors and partners, the Welshman appears a far more bankable role model.

Verdict: Bale is the hands down winner here. Suarez's bad boy image continues to get in the way of his footballing ability, while Bale lets his feet do the talking. Bale took home the PFA Player of the Year and Young Player of the Year awards last season, and also collected the Footballer of the Year gong.

Let us know your thoughts on Gareth Bale and Luis Suarez in the comments section below.Who is the better player? Who represents more value for money?

You can follow Garry Hayes on Twitter here @garryhayes