Mourinho steps up Suarez chase

Liverpool striker Luis Suarez could be the man Jose Mourinho wants this summer to add some bite to his shot-shy forward line.

The Chelsea boss is desperate to land a proven goalscorer to strengthen a squad that continues to push for domestic and European honours despite a lack of goals from this season’s strike options.

Edinson Cavani and Diego Costa have also been linked with summer switches to Stamford Bridge but Uruguay international Suarez, who was wanted by Arsenal last year, is now reportedly Mourinho’s top target.

Suarez has scored an amazing 23 Premier League goals in just 19 appearances so far this season and finally appears to have matured following a string of unpleasant incidents earlier in his career.

Barring injury he is certain to be part of Uruguay’s squad this summer when a team, that reached the semi-finals in South Africa four years ago, will be <short odds in World Cup betting 2014 to progress from a group that also includes England, Italy and Costa Rica.

Suarez only penned a new contract with Liverpool shortly before Christmas, but it is believed that there is a clause in that deal allowing him to leave Anfield if Brendan Rodgers’ side fails to secure a top-four spot in the Premier League this season.

Last summer <Suarez issued several statements confirming his desire to leave Merseyside as he wanted Champions League football, only to eventually have a change of heart and remain at Liverpool.

It is reported that Mourinho is ready to offer £55million for the 27-year-old former Ajax star, although Real Madrid are also believed to be in the running to sign the Premier League’s top scorer this season.

Suarez’s record for Liverpool since his £22.8million transfer from Ajax three years ago incredible – he has 61 goals in just 96 Premier League appearances for the Reds.