Liverpool Transfer News: Reds Told to Sell Luis Suarez, Latest on Dejan Lovren
Former Liverpool European Footballer of the Year Michael Owen has said he thinks the club are right to sell Luis Suarez―if they can get more than £70 million for him.
ESPN.co.uk reports that the former Ballon d'Or winner thinks the time is right for the Merseyside club to cash in on Suarez if they can get the desired price for him after his most recent biting incident at the World Cup.
Owen said on his Sportslobster.com blog, per ESPN.co.uk:
"If I were the Liverpool manager I would probably sell Suarez, but only if the deal was right for the club. If the deal was right for Liverpool, it would be best for all concerned if he moved on to a new club. It would have to be a club outside of the Premier League and at a price of £70m plus.
Given his misdemeanours in the last few seasons, it will be very difficult for him to continue to play in England.
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The loss of Suarez would of course hit Liverpool hard, but the potential money on offer for him would help with the blow.
Sky Sports writes that Suarez could be a Barcelona player by the weekend as the two clubs thrash out a fee for the disgraced Uruguayan footballer.
And Wayne Veysey, chief correspondent for Goal.com, has revealed just how close Suarez was to leaving Liverpool 12 months ago when the Reds had discussions with Arsenal over a potential transfer.
He tweeted:
Suarez's actions in Brazil—biting Italy's Giorgio Chiellini—seem to have been the final straw for the Premier League runners-up after backing the player through long suspensions and accusations of racism.
Last season, the player appeared to have repaid Brendan Rodgers' faith in him as he nearly led the team to the title, only failing in the last weeks of the campaign.
The 27-year old's 31 goals in 33 Premier League games were viewed as some sort of justification for him staying at Liverpool, but now, the player has once again let down his club.
Liverpool will need to spend any fee received for Suarez wisely, as replacing him will be almost impossible.
However, some will compare it to when Owen left the team to join Real Madrid only for Liverpool to triumph in the Champions League just months later.
But Owen was no Suarez, as good as he once was. Suarez is central to everything great about Liverpool's attacking game, and he cannot be replaced without major surgery being performed.
It is a sad end for a player who simply does not have the control to be a responsible footballer. Liverpool should sell now to achieve a top value for an individual who is not getting any younger.
Part of the fee can be used to improve the Reds' poor defence, and Sky Sports reports that Southampton have rejected an £18 million bid from Liverpool for Dejan Lovren.
The Anfield club should persist with this potential transfer, though, as Lovren proved last season just what a fantastic defender he is.
It will be a tricky few weeks for Rodgers before the season begins again, but the hard work starts now as and when Suarez departs for Spain.
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