Suarez continues to keep Kop guessing

The Luis Suarez transfer soap opera continued yesterday with conflicting reports as to the striker’s intentions.

Suarez has been at odds with his club all summer over his future, last week saying Liverpool had reneged on a deal to allow him to leave should they fail to qualify for the Champions League.

Late on Tuesday night reports in Uruguay began to circulate indicating the 26-year-old was now willing to stay at Liverpool and perhaps even sign a new contract at the club.

The sensational U-turn was apparently sparked by the support the striker has received from Liverpool’s fans as his row with the club turned ever more toxic.

“Luis Suarez has confirmed to me that he will not be leaving Liverpool,” Uruguayan journalist Martin Charquero claimed. “The support of the fans in the last few weeks has influenced his decision.”

Uruguayan newspaper El Observador quoted Suarez as saying: “For now, owing to all the affection of the people, I would be staying.”

Those comments seemed to draw a line under the summer-long saga and dash Arsenal’s hopes of making him their marquee summer signing.

However, speaking after scoring in Uruguay’s 4-2 friendly win over Japan, Suarez claimed he had made no such remarks.

“I didn’t say that, maybe someone else did and the main thing is that I am here now with the national team,” Japan’s Kyodo News quoted him as saying.

It has also emerged that Suarez has not, as of yet, at least, contacted Liverpool and committed his future to them.

Suarez’s comments after the Japan game will have given Arsenal fresh hope that they may yet get their man and while the Gunners’ lack of transfer activity has frustrated fans, former defender Martin Keown believes the pursuit of the controversial striker has made the club feel better about themselves.

Keown feels the pursuit of Suarez has a wider dimension than merely attempting to sign a player, which is why the former England centre-back does not feel it has been a waste of time, whatever the ultimate outcome.

Keown said: “It was a demonstration to Arsenal fans. The club were saying, ‘We have £40 million there. We have tried to buy someone else’s best player for a change’. It has shown how serious Arsenal are about spending money.

“In the past, Arsene has nurtured them, then lost them just when they are at their best, as was the case with Samir Nasri, Cesc Fabregas and Robin van Persie.

“Now he needs to go out and buy an obvious talent, someone who is going to hit the ground running. And they don’t come cheap.

“Arsenal still need to buy two or three players. If they do, I think there is a real chance.”

Keown’s theory is based upon the unprecedented amount of change that has taken place at the top of the Premier League this summer, with last season’s top three teams all under new management.

And that is why Keown is so desperate for Wenger to secure a fresh face or two.

“Arsenal won 10 and drew two of their final 12 games last season. That was championship form,” Keown added. “I just feel if you are in the camp, you need a new signing. You need someone who makes you believe you are going in the right direction.”