Football: Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers laughed off reports today that the club’s in-form striker Luis Suarez may be set for a move to billionaires Manchester City when the January transfer window opens.
The 25-year-old Uruguayan has been in fine fettle for the Reds so far this term, hitting 11 goals in 16 appearances.
It is thought that his form has caught the eye of City chief Roberto Mancini, with reports claiming the Italian is considering a £40 million bid for the former Ajax striker.
Sources at the Citizens, who have also been heavily linked with Atletico Madrid hitman Radamel Falcao of late, subsequently claimed they have no plans to move for Suarez.
But in any case Rodgers has every intention of hanging on to his leading scorer and, with Fabio Borini out with a broken foot, the club’s only fit senior striker.
“There will be no bidding war. He’s staying here,” said Rodgers.
“If we lost Luis then we’ve got no strikers. I don’t think we can afford to lose anyone.
“He’s certainly not someone we want to sell or move on.
“He’s been a brilliant player to work with and we want to add to our squad, not take people out of it, especially a world-class player.”
During a summer of upheaval at Anfield, which included the departure of legendary player and manager kenny Dalglish and Rodgers’s arrival, Suarez signed a new long-term contract.
And while Rodgers knows he needs to strengthen his forward line in January, he does not believe he has to do so in order to convince the Uruguayan to stay.
“We just continue to work and stay focused on what we try to achieve,” he added.
“Luis has already shown in the summer his commitment to the club, he’s signed a new deal.
“I think you’ve seen up until this point he’s in a great moment in his footballing life here at Liverpool. He is scoring goals and working well.
“I’ll just continue to communicate with all the players and Luis in particular. Like I say, he’s very happy here.”
Suarez joined Liverpool in a £22.7m move from Ajax in January 2011, at the same time that former talisman Fernando Torres departed for Chelsea.
The Uruguayan soon became a fans’ favourite and scored 17 goals in 39 appearances during his first full season at the club.
He has also proven a controversial figure, being found guilty of racially abusing Manchester United defender Patrice Evra, banned for eight games and then widely criticised for his decision to refuse Evra’s handshake when the two came face-to-face at Old Trafford.
However, the pair did shake hands when Liverpool played Manchester United for the first time this season at Anfield.
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