Ian Ayre Gives Timeline on Contract Talks for New Luis Suarez Liverpool Deal

Liverpool managing director Ian Ayre has revealed the club will wait until the summer before opening talks with Luis Suarez over a new contract.

Suarez made his first appearance of the season in Wednesday’s Capital One Cup defeat to Manchester United, following a summer in which he expressed his wish to leave Anfield.

Having signed a new deal only a year ago, there is no rush to tie the player to a fresh agreement, but Ayre told Sky Sports News talks are likely to take place:

"

We sort of begin those type of discussions two years in from the end, so it'll be the end of this season. We'll do the same with everyone and at the right time we'll have the discussion with Luis and his advisors.

"

A new agreement between the two parties would represent a seismic U-turn on behalf of Suarez, who was adamant he wanted to leave over the summer.

The Uruguayan was the target of a £40 million bid from Arsenal, while a desired approach from Real Madrid never materialised.

Suarez threatened to turn on Liverpool when claiming they betrayed him over a gentleman’s promise, which meant he could talk to other clubs if the Reds failed to earn Champions League football.

However, the forward has always had the support of the club’s fans and cut a relaxed figure in recent training sessions, photographed laughing as he playfully kicked Steven Gerrard.

Suarez made a typically bullish comeback against United, showing he had lost none of his usual energy as he did everything to help Liverpool win the game, hitting the bar with his best effort (GIF courtesy Feint Zebra).

Liverpool might accurately feel the player owes them his best efforts after he twice brought shame to the club with bans for biting and racial abuse. Ayre admitted as much to Sky Sports:

"

Of course, any types of incident of that nature are damaging to a brand, but Liverpool Football Club is way, way bigger and always will be way bigger than any one player or one individual.

Luis is a street fighter and we had to deal with it. We've worked a lot with him since the Ivanovic incident and he's back to what he's best at - terrorising defenders.

"

Whether that will lead to a new contract for Suarez at Liverpool is still likely to depend on where the Reds finish this season.    

Champions League football is the level at which the player belongs, having tortured defences last season, so the pressure is on Brendan Rodgers to deliver that platform.