Why Arsenal (or Anyone Else) Shouldn't Waste Their Time Bidding for Luis Suarez

Ahead of Liverpool's trip to Arsenal this weekend, much of the talk has inevitably revolved around Luis Suarez after The Gunners failed attempts to sign the Uruguayan this summer.

Suarez, who has six goals in four games since his return from suspension, was the subject of the infamous £40 million plus a pound bid from the London side.

The whole saga was later ended by Liverpool's principal owner firmly telling Suarez he wouldn't be leaving, while wondering what they were smoking at the Emirates!

"

What do you think they're smoking over there at Emirates?

— John W. Henry (@John_W_Henry) July 24, 2013"

In his pre-match press conference, Arsene Wenger was asked if Suarez remained a target for the club. The Frenchman refused to answer, preferring to focus on the game.

Bizarrely though, Wenger claimed—via quotes from ESPN—"You (the media) made it (Suarez bids) public. I didn't make anything public."

That despite Arsenal's interest in Suarez being reported via Arsenal-based journalists such as The Mirror's John Cross. Who can forget this tweet:

"

BOOM! I can almost feel all of my foul mouthed abusers apologise and say we got it 100 per cent right on Luis Suarez. #lfc #afc

— John Cross (@johncrossmirror) August 6, 2013"

This week saw The Daily Star report that Real Madrid were interested in offering Karim Benzema plus £20 million for Suarez in January. It was hard not to laugh at such a "report."

There were the same old lines we heard in the summer; Suarez isn't happy, Liverpool would prefer to sell him abroad... No mention though of John Henry and Liverpool's stance on Arsenal's derisory bids just three months ago.

Any club contemplating a bid for Suarez in January would be wasting their time, that is clear. Liverpool will not, under any circumstances, entertain any offers.

As Brendan Rodgers explains in The Telegraph today: “I understand why Arsenal would want to buy a player of Luis’s quality because he is one of the leading strikers in the world but it was something that was never going to happen.”

World Class

Rodgers rightly points out that Suarez is world class. Nominated for the Ballon d'Or this week and looking at his very best since his return from suspension, Rodgers believes Suarez has shown improvements in both his "football ability and maturity," as per the BBC.

The World Cup next summer will showcase some of the best talents and Suarez will be among them provided Uruguay can get past Jordan in their play-off qualifier.

If you were to name five players who will entertain at the World Cup, three names that would be on almost anybody's list would be Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo (should Portugal qualify) and Suarez.

There aren't many who are performing to the level Suarez is at the moment. Alan Hansen's assertion on Match of the Day last week that Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie is a better strike partnership than Suarez and Daniel Sturridge would probably have John Henry wondering if he'd been smoking at The Emirates.

Champions League Dreams

Suarez could quite literally be the difference between Liverpool finishing inside the top four, or not, this season. That, of course, means Champions League qualification—and no reason then for Suarez to leave.

Qualification for Europe's elite competition has many knock-on effects; financial gain, prestige and allure.

Liverpool would, after five years away from the top table, be able to attract players of Champions League calibre. Something which is priceless.

A top-four finish and maintaining a place in the Champions League year-on-year would be worth hundreds of millions to Liverpool; in terms of actual payments from UEFA, sponsorship, TV revenue and the ability to attract top players.

So unless a club is prepared to pay over £100 million for Suarez, why would Liverpool even contemplate such offers? They wouldn't.

Such logic, though, doesn't sell newspapers or create dramatic headlines, so no doubt we'll still see reports of a similar ilk to the one above over the coming weeks as we head towards the January transfer window.

You'd be wise not to waste your time entertaining them!