New deal for Premier League’s most lethal forward?

Luis Suarez (R) with manager Brendan Rodgers

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has revealed that the club will be opening contract talks with in-form striker Luis Suarez, despite the forward’s well-publicised desire to leave the club during the previous summer. The striker has started the season with 13 goals in 9 games, andSky Sports report that Rodgers is keen to tie him down to a longer deal.

Suarez has two and a half years left on his current deal – a contract that was the subject of much dispute over the summer.  The striker and the club came to blows over the existence of a gentlemen’s agreement that Suarez could leave for a Champions League side, but the club held firm in the face of interest from Arsenaland Real Madrid to keep him at Anfield.

Rodgers insisted that no agreement existed, but wants to offer the striker a new deal before the season is out.

“There never was that (gentleman’s agreement) before, and there never was this summer,” he said. “The contract was what it was.

“We want him to stay and, with his contract running for two and a half years, I am sure there will be something between now and the end of the season to keep him here.”

“The most important thing is that the player is happy. I didn’t sit in on the conversations last summer but, as I understand it, there is no agreement of any kind.

“I think all parties are fairly comfortable at the moment. We made our feelings known in the summer and it is where it is.

“The only concentration now for us and Luis is to keep him playing at that level, and the rest takes care of itself.”

Whilst many believe that Liverpool need to bring Champions League football back to Anfield if they are to keep hold of the Uruguayan, Rodgers refused to be drawn on whether the side needed to qualify this season to keep him, saying:

“Is his future here linked with the Champions League? It is linked with him being the best player he can be, playing at the highest level he can,”

“He has two and a half years left on his contract, so there will be another two years to go in the summer. That’s all there is to be said. But I just have a feeling, an inkling (that he may stay), and it is based on where he is in his life and conversations with him.”

Rodgers continued, “His behaviour, mannerisms and performance levels tell me he is very happy being with Liverpool and in the Premier League. That gives me confidence.”

Suarez has scored every 62 minutes that he has been on the pitch this season.