Rumour: Liverpool striker Luis Suarez set for record contract

Luis Suarez: The Uruguayan Hit-man

Liverpool’s mercurial striker Suarez is all set for a bumper contract, reports suggest. The Uruguayan who has been in sensational form since his return from a 10 match ban for biting Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic, scoring 17 goals in just 11 league appearances has drawn interest from giants all across Europe.

The Merseyside club have taken their first step to tie the striker down with a club-record contract. Managing director Ian Ayre flew to Barcelona, to meet Suarez’s agent Pere Guardiola, brother of Bayern coach Pep Guardiola. The club did this to avoid further rumours and interests in hindsight of a long and protracted summer of transfer rumours and failed bids to capture the star forward, who himself expressed his strong desire to leave for a club currently competing in the Champions League.

Some sources quote that the Anfield club are willing to pay more than £130,000 per week for his services on a long term contract, which will essentially see them hold on to the striker for the better part of his prime years. Fenway Sports Group, an American conglomerateand current owners of Liverpool have been reluctant in the past to enter into contract negotiations with a player during the open season.

No official contract has been offered to Guardiola by Ayre, but it is merely a start to what could be a protracted process of negotiations. Guardiola was the agent involved in the dispute between Suarez and Liverpool, over the terms in his current deal which has two and a half years left in it, when Arsenal tried to sign him in the summer.

The Uruguayan’s stock has been on the rise ever since, with reported interest from Spanish giants Barcelona, Real Madrid and current Premier League leaders Arsenal, who failed to sign him in the summer. Real Madrid are reportedly planning a £60 million swoop for the star striker in the summer.

The Premier League top scorer has been a different player since his return; a player known for his on field antics as well as lethal finishing, has subdued his dark side and has only been shown the yellow card once in 11 matches. This was reflected by him winning a rather rare accolade of 2013 player of the year at the Football Supporters’ Federation Awards at the Emirates Stadium.

Suarez credited the Anfield faithful for accepting him again and supporting him throughout, and reflected that playing in front of the home fans was the highlight of his year.

He said, “After so many difficult moments for me I was able to win the supporters back, and that was unbelievable when I came back to play.”