Reds ‘sure’ Suarez staying
Arsenal have failed with two club record bids for Suarez, who told Liverpool earlier this summer he wants out of the club but has since returned to pre-season training.
“We’ve got Luis Suarez in our squad, he’ll have trained today and he’s working hard,” said Ayre, who added there have been no offers from abroad for the player.
“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.”
Ayre confirmed Arsenal’s two bids but said: “It’s not something we’re interested in and, as our fans would expect, we rejected both. The player is not available for sale — that’s where we are and that’s where we’ll stay.
“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.”
Suarez was given time off after playing for Uruguay in the Confederations Cup but joined up with Brendan Rodgers’ squad in Melbourne, where 95,000 fans watched Liverpool beat Melbourne Victory.
Ayre said: “I don’t think his demeanour’s changed — he’s been a professional throughout. It’s just business as usual.
“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.”
For his part, Rodgers admits he still has money to spend in the remainder of the transfer window but has no intention of wasting it on unnecessary impulse buys. Rodgers has already signed four players — at an estimated cost of £25m — and while his greatest challenge will be holding on to Suarez, there is still the scope for further strengthening in addition to reacting to anything that happens with the Uruguay international.
Indeed, reports last night claimed the club have offered €25m for Atletico Madrid striker Diego Costa.
Costa has a chequered disciplinary record and is a controversial figure but last season he fired 10 goals in 31 league appearances for Atletico, where he has scored a total of 20 goals in 44 games.
“They have to be of the right quality, that’s the bottom line,” Rodgers said of any possible recruits.
“We’ve got money to spend on getting that quality in but if it’s not available I won’t waste it for the sake of bringing a player in.
“We’re really working hard to bring in the type of profile that can really help us push on.”
Rodgers is more than happy with the quartet he has already signed, having brought in Sunderland goalkeeper Simon Mignolet, Manchester City defender Kolo Toure, Celta Vigo’s Iago Aspas and Sevilla’s Luis Alberto.
“All of the new boys have settled in really well,” the Irishman said.
“Simon Mignolet has been first class. He has shown that he is one of the top young goalkeepers in European football. I think he will prove over the next coming years at Liverpool he is a top keeper.
“Kolo Toure speaks for himself — his experience and his fitness has been first class since he came in and he’s a really good man.
“That was the idea of bringing him in, because of his winning mentality and his personality.
“Iago has settled in well and got a few goals in pre-season, which is great for his confidence. He’s a livewire in and around the box.
“Luis Alberto is obviously still young but has shown the qualities, technically, and has got a strong mentality. I think we can see early on that he can end up being a very good player for Liverpool.”
