Suarez welcomes Arsenal interest and hints he may stay in England

Luis Suarez has claimed "two or three clubs" want to sign him from Liverpool this summer and that he values interest from Arsenal.

Liverpool's leading striker has previously cited what he perceives as unfair treatment by the English media and the Football Association for his desire to leave Anfield yet, in an interview given to the Uruguayan radio station Sport 890 yesterday, he said he appreciated Arsenal's recent €35m bid for his services. He laughed off reported interest from Chelsea but admitted he is prepared to interrupt a holiday in his native Uruguay should a transfer develop.

Arsenal had a €35m offer rejected at the weekend by Liverpool, who continue to insist the 26-year-old is not for sale and have yet to receive any other approaches for a striker they value at over €58m. Pere Guardiola, Suarez's agent, held another prearranged meeting with Liverpool's manager, Brendan Rodgers, and managing director, Ian Ayre, on Monday during which it is believed he reiterated Suarez's desire for Champions League football. No transfer request was forthcoming.

'Concrete options'
"There are a few options and the club knows that," Suarez said. "Are there any concrete options? No, so far there hasn't been any. There are two or three clubs who I think are willing and the club knows that.

“I have to present myself on the 21st with Liverpool for their tour of Australia but no one knows what could happen. I’ve already said what I have to say, and initially I have to be there on the 21st but maybe a phone call one day can change all your plans.

Suarez's stance on wishing to leave England, not simply Liverpool, also appeared to have softened in the wake of the bid from Arsenal and the absence of an official move, so far, from Real Madrid. "I have to value that – despite everything that's happened, (English) clubs still value players for what they can do on the field," he said. "That makes me think that I can come back and do well over there. It's good that the English clubs still want me."

The Liverpool forward's interview followed a declaration from his Uruguay team-mate Edinson Cavani that Suarez needs to join a Champions League club. Cavani, a close friend of Suarez, said: "Luis has to be playing Champions League football. I can tell you his love for Liverpool is very real. If they were playing in the Champions League, he would not consider leaving. But he knows he is now at the stage of his career that he needs to be playing at the top level."
Guardian Service