Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has told striker Luis
Suarez it would be a career blunder to leave Anfield.
The Uruguayan is being pursued by Arsenal, who had a bid
of £40million plus £1 for the striker rejected this week.
Suarez and his representatives may yet argue that are now
in a position to negotiate with the Gunners but Liverpool will try to reject
that claim.
And Rodgers has little doubt Suarez would regret leaving
Liverpool if he were to depart.
Rodgers, quoted in The Guardian, said: "I know what
we are trying to build and grow, so why would you swap Liverpool to go to
Arsenal?
"I am not sure that it adds up, to be honest.
Arsenal has a wonderful history in its own right but Liverpool is one of the
biggest clubs in the world. Okay, we might not be in the Champions League and
haven't been for a while now but our competitors have grown around us and we
have to step up to the challenge now.
"Would it be a mistake for Luis to leave? 100%. The
team was built around Luis last season. I made some big calls to get the team
to work in a way to suit his strengths and it is no coincidence he had a great
season apart from the end bit. We would love to have him to continue the next
phase.
"It is difficult for Luis, I understand that. If a
team wants you, it can be difficult."
But with huge crowds turning out to watch Liverpool
during their pre-season tour in Indonesia and Australia, Rodgers hopes a
crucial message has hit home.
"I am sure Luis will have seen the sheer size and
status of the club, so we'll just see how it goes. It is not something we want
to run on too long," Rodgers said.
Suarez is serving a 10-game ban for biting Chelsea's
Branislav Ivanovic and previously was banned for eight matches for racially
abusing Manchester United's Patrice Evra.
His agent Pere Guardiola told the club this month the
player wants to play Champions League football and Liverpool's prospects of
holding onto the 26-year-old appear slim.
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