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Liverpool FC are bracing themselves for an opening bid from Barcelona for Luis Suarez following the striker’s belated apology for biting Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini at the World Cup.

After six days of protesting his innocence , the disgraced Uruguayan finally admitted his guilt via a statement on social media networks.

The long overdue show of remorse followed reports in Spain that Barcelona had informed Suarez’s advisers that he needed to issue a public apology prior to them tabling an offer.

Anfield officials insist there has still been no approach from the Spanish giants but they expect the Catalans to make their move imminently.

Barcelona haven’t been put off by Suarez’s four-month suspension from all football and believe they can use his record ban - coupled with his determination to join them - to secure his services at a knockdown price.

However, Liverpool, who haven’t been informed by either Suarez or his advisers that he’s seeking a transfer, have no intention of selling him on the cheap.

There is a release clause in the lucrative contract Suarez penned last December, which is understood to be around £70million to £80million, and the Reds are adamant unless that is met he will be going nowhere.

The ECHO understands Liverpool played no role in Suarez’s apology and were given no prior warning that it was being issued.

Despite his latest shameful disciplinary episode, which has given the Reds a major headache ahead of the new campaign, Suarez made no mention of his club.

There was an apology to Chiellini and the “entire football family” but no show of regret for the implications of his behaviour on Liverpool, despite the fact they have repeatedly stood by him in the wake of his string of indiscretions.

Suarez had previously denied sinking his teeth into the Italy international, saying he had simply lost balance and collided with Chiellini’s shoulder, but he changed his tune with a statement on Twitter and Facebook.

It read: “After several days of being home with my family, I have had the opportunity to regain my calm and reflect about the reality of what occurred during the Italy-Uruguay match on 24 June 2014.

“Independent from the fallout and the contradicting declarations that have surfaced during these past days, all of which have been without the intention of interfering with the good performance of my national team, the truth is that my colleague Giorgio Chiellini suffered the physical result of a bite in the collision he suffered with me.

“For this: I deeply regret what occurred. I apologise to Giorgio Chiellini and the entire football family; I vow to the public that there will never again be another incident like (this).”

Chiellini responded to Suarez’s apology via Twitter as he said: “It’s all forgotten. I hope FIFA will reduce your suspension.”

Suarez didn’t state whether he still intends to appeal against the length of the ban. His statement was issued independently of the Uruguayan FA - fuelling talk that it’s simply an attempt to engineer a move to Barcelona.

Suarez’s comments are certainly at odds with the confrontational nature of Uruguay’s response to the incident. Uruguayan FA president Wilmar Valdez, coach Oscar Tabarez and skipper Diego Lugano all defended him.

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