Grounded: But will Suarez have his way and leave Liverpool? (Picture: Action Images)

The man who signed Luis Suarez for Liverpool, Damien Comolli, believes it’s understandable that the striker wants to join Arsenal because the Anfield club cannot match his ambition.

The Reds have rejected two Arsenal bids for the Uruguayan striker – most recently £40million plus £1, but he continues to be linked with a move to the Gunners – as well as Real Madrid.

Former Reds director of football Comolli oversaw the £22.7m deal that took Suarez from Ajax to Merseyside in 2011, and he told the BBC: ‘It looks like a very messy situation.

‘When I was there, we knew it would be hard to keep players like [Jose] Reina, [Daniel] Agger, Luis [Suarez] if we couldn’t get into the Champions League.




‘Luis is extremely ambitious and with all due respect to Liverpool, they’re a top-eight side, not top-four like Arsenal.’

Suarez received a rousing reception when he was introduced as a second-half substitute in Steven Gerrard’s testimonial on Saturday – although he did not acknowledge the crowd’s support.

Strictly business: Suarez did not acknowledge the crowd’s support on Saturday (Picture: Action Images)

But former Liverpool managing director Christian Purslow thinks the fans’ wishes that Suarez will stay will be granted – unless another club rival Arsenal for the forward’s signature.

Purslow believes the Merseysiders will not sell to a team they hope to rival in the top four next season, and said: ‘If the only offer is from Arsenal I would expect Luis Suarez to stay at Liverpool.

‘It’s disappointing as a follower of Liverpool that the player has so publicly and so early in the close season made it pretty clear that he would like to move on.

‘I’m pretty realistic about these things and it’s not that unusual for a player of that magnitude to want to play at Champions League level. That appears to be his motivation.’

Light relief: Suarez cracks a smile before Gerrard’s testimonial (Picture: PA)

Captain Gerrard, meanwhile, is cautiously optimistic that Suarez will be a Liverpool player come the close the transfer window.

Speaking after the 2-0 testimonial win – courtesy of goals from Joe Allen and Jordan Henderson – over Olympiacos, Gerrard said: ‘We’ve got some wonderful youngsters coming through and I think everyone is keeping their fingers crossed that we can keep important players at the club.

‘If we do I can assure everyone that we will compete. There might be one or two new faces to add to that as well [a bid has been made to Atletico Madrid for striker Diego Costa] – we’ll have to wait and see.

‘I’m really pleased with the boys so far – we haven’t conceded a goal (in five pre-season friendlies) and we’re creating bundles of chances. With the right people in the forward areas, we’ll get lots of goals.’

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