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Arsene Wenger has gone back with a fresh approach for Luis Suarez, writes John Cross in Hanoi - and Arsenal are ready to test Liverpool's £40million contract clause.

It puts the Gunners firmly in pole position on Suarez, because Real Madrid have insisted they will not pay more than £25m for the striker- which will be nowhere near enough.

Liverpool have already rebuffed Arsenal's opening gambit of £30m plus £5m in add-ons with a strong message that the 26-year-old Uruguayan is not for sale at any price.

But it is understood Suarez's representatives are making encouraging noises to Arsenal, and other potential suitors, suggesting that if a bid of £40m is made then Liverpool will have to sell.

The north Londoners, who believe this will be a big week for their transfer plans, are trying to maintain dialogue with Liverpool - who are starting a Far East pre-season tour of their own - over Suarez and are hopeful a bigger offer will be accepted.

The Anfield giants remain adamant that if a £40m bid is made they do not have to sell but must inform Suarez, who is understood to now be ready to consider a move within the Premier League.

There is a growing feeling at Arsenal that they have a genuine chance of signing Suarez, who is now their No1 transfer priority but they are still closely watching developments regarding Wayne Rooney and Gonzalo Higuain.

Chelsea appear to be the front-runners on Manchester United forward Rooney, while Napoli have also come in for Real Madrid's Higuain after selling Edinson Cavani to Paris Saint-Germain.

(Image: Helios de la Rubia)

Arsenal had a deal in place and personal terms agreed on Higuain but now appear to have backed off, having been given encouragement that a sensational deal for Suarez could be on.

Real would be Suarez's preferred destination, but the Spanish giants are playing hardball on a price and are willing to do so right until deadline day - and that leaves Arsenal very hopeful.

Wenger was cautious on Wednesday when asked directly about all three strikers, but insisted they are willing to pay top wages and it is understood that all of them remain on the agenda.

He hinted that, after Arsenal reluctantly sold Robin van Persie to United last summer, they may take revenge on their Old Trafford rivals with a move for Rooney, and he does not believe Suarez is an impossiblity just because he is at another Premier League club.

(Image: Matthew Peters)

Wenger, whose Gunners beat Vietnam's national team 7-1 here, said: "It happened to us (with van Persie). It can happen to them (United). But anyway, Rooney is under contract. He has two years to go. It's Man United who make a decision.

"We push every week. We work on it (transfers) but the competition in Europe is very hard at the moment. There's a lot of money and not many players.

"We are, at the moment, not specifically after one name. We have not the problem of the wages of Wayne Rooney but it's very difficult for us to talk about any specific case.

"I admire everybody who is a top striker, but at the moment we work well but we are not close to sign anybody.

"As soon as we will be, we'll let you know."

* JAY SPEARING can speak to Blackburn after Liverpool accepted the Championship club's £1.5m offer for the midfielder, writes Alan Nixon.