Transfer news: Luis Suarez 'understands' why Liverpool are refusing to sell to Arsenal, claims Brendan Rodgers
The Liverpool boss insists Suarez remains happy despite confusion over a contract clause that Arsenal believed they had activated
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Your support makes all the difference.Brendan Rodgers has insisted that Luis Suarez “totally understands” why Liverpool are refusing to entertain any offers for the striker in the wake of Arsenal’s £40m plus £1 bid.
It was the second bid that the Gunners saw rejected by the Anfield hierarchy, though they are expected to maintain their interest in the Uruguayan who is keen on a move away from Liverpool.
Arsenal believed that the additional £1 would activate a release clause in his contract, but Liverpool have maintained that they merely had to inform the player of the offer, while still rejecting it.
It had been reported that Suarez would ask the Premier League to intervene and clarify the situation, although he is yet to take any action and Rodgers has claimed that he has not been affected by all the speculation.
"It's a story that can keep running but for me there is no new news," Rodgers told the Liverpool Echo.
"Luis is happy. He totally understands the club's point of view.
"He's in a difficult position in terms of not being able to play because of his suspension - he will sit out the first six games and he will miss playing football.
"But he's working hard and remains part of the group. He hasn't been moping about.
"It's obviously difficult when you come back after a break but he has settled in and has been working well.
"He needs to get up to speed and we will continue to work to get all the players ready for the first game of the season."
Suarez claimed he wanted to leave England due to the way he had been treated by the British media, though Arsenal felt they could lure him to the Emirates with the promise of Champions League football, which seems to have attracted Suarez’s interest.
However, the former Ajax forward has stopped short of handing in an official transfer request or seeking legal recourse, and Liverpool feel that he owes the club a degree of loyalty after they stood by him during the with racism row with Manchester United’s Patrice Evra and biting incident with Chelsea’s Branislav Ivanovic.
Suarez is currently in the middle of a 10-match ban for his part in the latter, and along with being on Confederations Cup duty with his country, Rodgers feels he has had a less than ideal pre-season so far.
Rodgers doesn’t feel that is has had a destabilising effect on the rest of the squad though, and insists their professionalism will be enough to keep spirits up regardless of Suarez’s future.
"It could have unsettled them but it hasn't," he added.
"It says a lot about their professionalism: the environment that we're creating is that the star will always be the team.
"We want to have top players here but if for whatever reason we don't, we will always know we can rely on the team and each other.
"The harmony in the group is very good. The spirit is strong. Right across the club there is a one club mentality.
"If we can keep it that way we can have a great season."
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