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WHEN Brendan Rodgers returns to his desk on Monday morning Melwood will be a quiet place.

It will be another three weeks before he sees his squad for the start of pre-season training but for the Liverpool manager the summer break is over.

Rodgers’ in-tray is bulging as he looks to ensure momentum is maintained following the Reds’ strong finish to last season.

A host of tough decisions need to be made as the Northern Irishman embarks on the next stage of his Anfield rebuilding job.

At the top of the pile will be the file entitled Luis Suarez with uncertainty surrounding the future of the club’s prized asset.

Liverpool were left stunned by the interviews the Uruguayan frontman gave in his homeland last week when he made it clear he wants a move this summer.

Rodgers knew that Suarez was considering his future in English football after being left devastated by the 10-game ban he received for biting Branislav Ivanovic.

However, he went away encouraged by his discussions with the 26-year-old and with genuine hope that Liverpool’s support and commitment to helping him combat his disciplinary problems would convince him to stay put.

The fact that Suarez didn’t communicate his feelings directly with Liverpool before going public over the attraction of Real Madrid and the “suffering” of his family at the hands of the English press, was as difficult to stomach as the words themselves.

A week on the situation is unchanged. Liverpool have received no approaches or bids, while neither Suarez nor his agent have articulated to the club his desire to seek a transfer.

Liverpool have made it abundantly clear that they don’t want to sell their 30-goal top scorer and they certainly wouldn’t entertain bids lower than the £50million they received for Fernando Torres in 2011.

It’s a difficult situation for Rodgers who will be wary of the dangers of Suarez’s future dragging out into a summer-long saga and becoming an unwelcome distraction.

Liverpool are in a strong position in that he only penned a new long-term contract last August but that has to be balanced against the prospect of keeping a player whose heart is no longer at Anfield.

If Suarez is determined to force through a move and Real are willing to pay the asking price, the Reds need it to happen sooner rather than later to give them the best possible chance of filling what would be a huge void.

However, with Suarez on international duty at the Confederations Cup in Brazil and Real yet to appoint a manager, there is unlikely to be a quick resolution.

Suarez isn’t the only experienced, top class performer who Rodgers may need to find a replacement for.

Pepe Reina continues to be linked with a return to Barcelona with the keeper having made it clear “it would be difficult to say no” to the Catalan giants.

Reina’s agent has told Liverpool to expect an approach with reports in Spain suggesting Barca are preparing to table a bid of around £8.5million for the 30-year-old. That call still hasn’t arrived.

With Reina earning in excess of £110,000 a week it’s likely that the Reds wouldn’t stand in his way in the belief that cash could be better spent elsewhere.

However, having already lost vice-captain Jamie Carragher due to retirement, Rodgers must weigh up whether he can afford to wave goodbye to another leader in the dressing room.

The manager will be buoyed by the fact that Liverpool have moved quickly in the transfer market so far in a bid to land their targets.

Kolo Toure was snapped up on a free transfer from Manchester City with Celta Vigo forward Iago Aspas set to complete his £7.7million move. A deal is also close for Sporting Lisbon’s young defender Tiago Ilori.

Yet there is still a lot more business to be done as Rodgers looks to boost his options in all departments.

With Toure seen as a squad player and Ilori one for the future, Rodgers still needs a dominant first-choice centre-back to replace Carragher.

Schalke’s Greek international Kyriakos Papadopoulos remains his No 1 choice but talks with the German club have so far failed to reach an agreement over the fee and he may need to look at alternatives.

Liverpool retain an interest in Sevilla’s attacking midfielder Luis Alberto but Barcelona, where he spent last season on loan, have the option to buy him until June 13.

Rodgers will be hoping that Andy Carroll belatedly agrees to sign for West Ham on a permanent basis and swells his transfer kitty by £15million.

The Reds had expected Carroll to commit to the Hammers this week but his talks with the Londoners over personal terms have dragged on.

Another player who spent last season away on loan, Dani Pacheco, is also surplus to requirements and Rodgers must decide whether to give the likes of Jay Spearing and Jack Robinson the opportunity to force their way into his plans for next season.

Liverpool will listen to offers for centre-backs Martin Skrtel and Sebastian Coates but have no intention of allowing big-spending Monaco to lure Daniel Agger away.

With Danny Wilson signing for Hearts and Peter Gulacsi joining Salzburg, the Reds have already started off-loading the dead wood. Oussama Assaidi will join them out of the exit door.

It's a big summer for Liverpool with Rodgers facing up to a multitude of tasks. He will be desperate to ensure the strong foundations which were laid last season aren't rocked by instability.

The mission is simple – keep your best players and add quality reinforcements to the group by getting your business done early. His to-do list is extensive.

The work done off the pitch over the coming weeks will determine the mood when his squad reassemble on July 2.