Suarez ready to take legal action against Liverpool in bid to force Arsenal move



Luis Suarez is prepared to take legal action against Liverpool in a bid to force through his protracted move to Arsenal, as the controversial striker was snapped leaving training at the club's Melwood complex on Tuesday.



The Uruguay forward believes the Anfield club are reneging on a clause in his contract he thinks entitles him to leave should a Champions League side make a formal offer of over £40million — a step the Gunners have already taken.



Liverpool are disputing the clause, insisting they are obliged only to inform Suarez of the offer.

Behind the wheel: Luis Suarez, leaving training on Tuesday, believes he should be allowed to leave Anfield

Unhappy: Suarez is determined to leave Liverpool, with Arsenal the frontrunners to sign him

Suarez has been angered at the attempts to prevent him from leaving.



Privately, the former Ajax striker has made it clear he wants to quit Liverpool this summer and his camp will intensify their efforts this week.



Suarez’s advisers will seek to have their interpretation of the clause ratified by the Barclays Premier League.



If that fails, the player will seek clarification from his legal team in a bid to establish if Liverpool are in breach of contract. That could spark an unsavoury court battle should Suarez believe he has strong grounds to sue.

Speeding off? Suarez was spotted leaving Anfield on Monday

In training: But Suarez has demanded he be allowed to leave Liverpool

Suarez’s final option is to hand in a formal transfer request, though that is viewed as a last resort by his camp.



The forward remains Arsene Wenger’s priority transfer target this summer and talks between Arsenal and Liverpool are continuing.



The Gunners have been told a bid of £50m will be enough to sign Suarez but are reluctant to up their offer of £40m plus £1, thinking they have activated Suarez’s release clause.



Believing they are the only club in the running to sign Suarez, Arsenal chiefs are prepared to wait and see how the contract conflict is resolved before considering increasing the offer, though they are unlikely to match Liverpool’s £50m asking price.



Sidelines: Brendan Rodgers' side travel to Oslo to take on Valarenga in a pre-season friendly without Suarez

Mikel Arteta is confident Arsenal will sign Suarez but says the club may have to wait until the final few days of the transfer window.



The Spanish midfielder believes the best players often move at the end of the summer as negotiations between clubs reach a make-or-break stage.



So far Arsenal have signed only 20-year-old striker Yaya Sanogo from French club Auxerre on a free transfer and have been accused of lacking class by Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers in their pursuit of Suarez.

Arteta said: ‘I think we are going to start the season with new faces. That is what we are all hoping for. That will give us a big boost.

Optimistic: Despite time running out, Mikel Arteta is still confident about Arsenal making new signings

‘(Signing players) will happen, I have no doubts about it. I know the boss is working really hard on it and the board as well.



‘The great players normally come at the end of the transfer window. The clubs work hard to keep their best players and I think Arsenal will do well in the transfer window.’

The 31-year-old promised Arsenal fans the team who have not won a trophy since 2005 would be closer to the Premier League title this season, after finishing 16 points behind champions Manchester United in May.



‘We have been too far away in the last few seasons. We won’t be as far this season,’ he said.