Transfer news: Liverpool managing director Ian Ayre expects Luis Suarez to remain at the club despite Arsenal interest
Ayre insists that the Reds have no intention of selling the striker and that the Uruguayan knows how much he is loved by the club
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Your support makes all the difference.Liverpool managing director Ian Ayre has admitted he has no doubts that striker Luis Suarez will not be leaving the club this summer.
Ayre was speaking to Sky Sports as part of their 92Live programme, with presenter Jim White flying by helicopter to Anfield to speak to the Liverpool official.
Arsenal have seen two bids turned down for Suarez, with the second offer of £40m plus £1 leading the Gunners to believe they had activated a clause in the Uruguayan’s contract that allowed them to discuss a move.
But Ayre insists that Suarez will remain with the Reds for the foreseeable future.
"We've got Luis Suarez in our squad, he'll have trained (yesterday) and he's working hard," said Ayre, who added there have been no other offers for the player outside of the Arsenal bids.
"Despite what people think we've not had an intention of selling Luis, we've never said we want to sell Luis.
"He continues to work hard and train hard for Liverpool. That will continue and I'll expect him to be here at the start of the season."
He did confirm the Arsenal bids – and their rejection – and he claims to have the backing of the Anfield faithful in the club’s attempt to hold onto Suarez.
"I wish I had £1 for everyone that's stopped me in the street saying 'make sure Luis stays'. That's what we're doing."
"Luis was on the back end of tour with us. He joined us in Melbourne, and seeing the fantastic support and adulation, nobody will know more than Luis how much he's loved by this football club.
"I'm sure he's going to stay - that's always been our ambition and that's what we expect to achieve."
Ayre’s comments come after Arsenal legend Ian Wright suggested Suarez should stay with Liverpool, as a move to the Emirates would be a “strange” one for him personally.
Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard also spoke ahead of his testimonial on his hopes that Suarez would stay with the club, having claimed that a move to Arsenal would be bad for his career.
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