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Liverpool managing director Ian Ayre confirmed on Thursday that the club plans to offer a new contract to controversial striker Luis Suarez.
The Uruguayan forward was handed a hefty ban after being found guilty of racially abusing Manchester United left-back Patrice Evra and on Wednesday night made his first appearance after serving a 10-match suspension for biting Chelsea’s Branislav Ivanovic.
Nonetheless Ayre, who said that Suarez’s actions had damaged the club’s “brand,” defended the player and revealed that the club wish to extend his current deal.
Suarez signed a new long-term contract with Liverpool in August 2012, but Ayre said that the two parties would begin talks over a new deal at the end of the current campaign.
“We sort of begin those type of discussions two years in from the end, so it’ll be the end of this season,” Ayre said. “We’ll do the same with everyone and at the right time we’ll have the discussion with Luis and his advisors.”
Ayre added that Suarez has been at least partially misunderstood, claiming the Uruguayan is a likeable character away from the glare of the cameras.
“For all his controversy on the pitch, off the pitch he’s a great guy, he’s a family man and he’s very well liked,” Ayre added.
“He keeps himself to himself with his family, he’s been committed, he’s worked hard, trained hard.
“It’s been difficult and been difficult for him really. It’s always difficult being a footballer, and being a footballer like Luis Suarez you want to be on a football pitch.
“I think it’s been a challenge for him, but he’s got through it and I think, and he’s demonstrated last night, for a first game back, for somebody who hasn’t had the opportunity to play in the Premier League this season, he acquitted himself very well.”
Ayre also revealed that the club have made “huge strides” in their plans to redevelop Anfield.
He added: “Our ambition is to stay at Anfield and we’re about 90 per cent down the road in securing proprieties affected by redevelopment. I’m reasonably confident, the first phase will be closer to 60,000 capacity.”