The Star, generally a highly unreliable source of transfer information, have splashed the backpage of their tabloid and the front page of their website with a rumour involving Real Madrid, Liverpool, Arsenal and Luis Suarez.
The headline and sub-headline scream, “EXCLUSIVE: Real Madrid ready to offer £20m and Karim Benzema for Liverpool’s Luis Suarez”, “Real Madrid are plotting a January move for Luis Suarez by offering Liverpool £20m plus Karim Benzema.”
When it comes to the detail of the proposed deal, the Star’s article is full of ifs, buts and maybes but no quotes.
Adrian Kajumba writes:
Suarez still wants out of Anfield, despite Liverpool’s impressive start to the season. Arsenal are lining up a fresh New Year bid for the striker after failing to land him in the summer.
But the Uruguayan has his heart set on a move to Carlo Ancelotti’s Madrid – and the Spanish giants hope offering Liverpool a big-name replacement for Suarez plus cash will tempt them to sell.
Real are already making contingency plans in case Benzema says ‘no’ and they are forced to come up with a cash-only bid… Fabio Coentrao, Sami Khedira and Angel Di Maria are among those who Madrid are willing to offload to help fund their move for Suarez.
Most Liverpool supporters will scoff at the Star’s piece, as it feels hugely doubtful that the Scousers would sell Suarez. And even if Liverpool were to sell, the fee for Suarez would surely be north of £60m.
Luis Suarez has 36 goals and 11 assists in his last 46 games for Liverpool. Moreover, Suarez is the third highest scorer in the Premier League this season, despite the fact the Uruguayan missed the first 4 games in the Premier League.
