Arsene Wenger has claimed that Luis Suarez had verbally agreed to move from Liverpool to Arsenal in 2013, after the club audaciously bid £40,000,001 for the player.

Arsenal had been informed that there was a £40m release clause in Suarez’s contract and made their now infamous bid after coming to an agreement with the player, in the summer of 2013.

But it later transpired that Arsenal’s information was wrong and that the release clause did not exist, with Liverpool’s owner John Henry taking to Twitter to publicly mock Wenger’s side.

In an interview with BeIN Sports, Wenger has discussed the transfer saga for the first time, admitting that Suarez was keen to quit Anfield for the Emirates, but that the club’s poor intel had cost them.

“We had an agreement with the players and we had been wrongly advised that he had a clause (in his contract),” said Wenger.

Who could Arsenal eventually replace Sanchez with? Show all 6 1 /6 Who could Arsenal eventually replace Sanchez with? Who could Arsenal eventually replace Sanchez with? Marco Reus (Borussia Dortmund) At 27 years old, this summer is probably Reus’ last chance for a big-money move and his direct style of running from wide positions makes him an obvious replacement for Sanchez. The biggest competition for his signature would likely come from Liverpool but, financially, Arsenal should be able to edge it. However, given the Gunners’ injury record, how wise would it be signing someone with an injury history as rich as Reus’? AFP/Getty Images Who could Arsenal eventually replace Sanchez with? Antoine Griezmann (Atletico Madrid) Highly unlikely with Manchester United sniffing around but if Arsenal make the top four and the Red Devils don’t, there is always a possibility. And there’s the money available – even at £84m. Griezmann would be the kind of statement signing Arsenal have been yearning for and would be a signal of intent that they are really ready to challenge for the title again. Getty Images Who could Arsenal eventually replace Sanchez with? Yannick Carrasco (Atletico Madrid) A more realistic but equally as exciting a prospect. Carrasco has 14 goals already this season and is a powerful runner who seems, physically, like he would adapt quickly to the rigours of the Premier League. His workrate is exceptional – similar to that of Sanchez’s – and at only 23 years old he would be a long-term signing and Arsenal could use the uncertainty surrounding Diego Simeone’s future to prize the Belgian to north London. Getty Images Who could Arsenal eventually replace Sanchez with? Isco (Real Madrid) A top talent struggling to get a place in La Liga’s leading side available and looking for first-team football? Sound familiar, Arsenal fans? Both Sanchez and Ozil joined the Gunners in similar situations to the one Isco is currently in and who’s to say he wouldn’t be as successful as those two? Arsenal would be able to sign the forward for less than £30m, which, at 24-years-old, represents quite the bargain. Getty Images Who could Arsenal eventually replace Sanchez with? Kylian Mbappe (Monaco) Arsenal looked at 18-year-old Mbappe last summer and they’re continuing to monitor his progress at Monaco. The teenager is one of the most coveted in Europe and after his recent performance against Manchester City in the Champions League he looks like he has all the attributes to fill the Sanchez void. Like Anthony Martial when he left Monaco, Mbappe would not come cheaply, however. AFP/Getty Images Who could Arsenal eventually replace Sanchez with? Edinson Cavani (Paris Saint-Germain) Arsenal know they type of damage Cavani can do having impressed against them in this year’s Champions League and a 20-goal-a-season, coming in from the left is exactly what they’d be missing should Sanchez. The Uruguayan has been linked with the Premier League for years without a move coming to fruition and it would be a gamble as Cavani would command a hefty transfer fee and wage packet having come from the Qatari-owned PSG. AFP/Getty Images

“You can ask the player. He will confirm that he wanted to join us.

“Then they kept him one more year, improved his contract and promised to sell him to a club abroad.”

Wenger also admitted in the interview that he previously had his doubts over the Uruguayan’s temperament, but praised him for cleaning up his act over the past two seasons.

Arsene Wenger: The In or Out debate

“It’s not normal, you cannot accept that,” added Wenger of Suarez’s antics. “He had some behaviours that were shocking. He deserved to be punished.

“I think, as well, you don’t see them any more for the last two or three years. He got rid of all the things that were a handicap for him and you don’t see that any more.