Get the FREE Mirror Football newsletter by email with the day's key headlines and transfer news Sign up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Luis Suarez is being offered an escape route from his World Cup bite shame by Barcelona.

They are ready to offer Chile World Cup star Alexis Sanchez to the Reds as part of an £80million player-plus-cash deal, as they have not been put off by Tuesday's disgraceful incident.

Suarez is facing a lengthy FIFA ban after his incredible bust-up with Georgio Chiellini as TV pictures show him taking a bite out of the Italy defender’s shoulder mid-match.

It is understood that Barca's arch-rivals Real Madrid have cooled their interest after Suarez’s latest embarrassment but the Catalans remain keen - and Liverpool may now be tempted to sell.

Sanchez has also been courted by Manchester United and Arsenal.

Barcelona could even put Spain winger Pedro into the deal too, and if they meet Liverpool’s valuation then Suarez would turn his back on English football.

The 28-year-old could also lose a £1m boot deal as Adidas are reviewing their sponsorship of him.

The Uruguay striker was in denial on Wednesday, with his lawyer, captain and even his national association insisting the incident is a media conspiracy.

The Uruguayan FA’s main defence against FIFA’s charge is understood to be that pictures of Chiellini’s shoulder have been doctored to look worse.

FIFA have requested TV pictures of the incident and appointed their disciplinary head Claudio Sulser to lead a six-man panel.

But Uruguay captain Diego Lugano astonishingly mounted a defence of Suarez.

When asked about the Chiellini incident, the former West Brom defender replied: “What incident?”

Uh, THIS incident, Diego...

And Uruguay FA board member Alejandro Balbi, who is also Suarez’s lawyer, has claimed the striker is being singled out for special punishment.

Balbi said: “We don’t have any doubts that this has happened because it’s Suarez and, secondly, because Italy was eliminated.

“There’s a lot of pressure from England [also eliminated from the same group] and Italy. We’re polishing off a defence argument.

“There is a possibility that they ban him, because there are precedents, but we’re convinced that it was an absolutely casual play, because if Chiellini can show a scratch on one shoulder, Suarez can show a bruised and almost-shut eye.

“If every player starts showing the injuries he suffers and they open inquiries for them everything will be way too complicated in the future.

"We’re going to use all the arguments possible so that Luis gets out in the best possible way.”

Gordon Taylor, head of the English players' union the PFA, said: “It can’t be acceptable and from that point of view there are serious issues to be dealt with and they’re health issues, counselling issues, mental health issues.

"It certainly needs that to try to eradicate this from his make-up, otherwise I fear for his career."