Liverpool director Ian Ayre: 'I'm sure Luis Suarez will stay'

Liverpool managing director Ian Ayre is confident that unsettled striker Luis Suarez will stay at the club.

The Uruguayan international recently expressed his desire to seek pastures new, with reports claiming that the 26-year-old is eager to play for a club competing in the Champions League.

While Arsenal have had two bids rejected by Liverpool, one believed to be £40,000,001m, Ayre has revealed that Real Madrid are yet to make an offer following reports that they are tracking the controversial star.

"Despite what people think, we've never said we wanted to sell Luis," Ayre told Sky Sports News. "He continues to work hard and train hard. I expect him to be there at the start of the season.

"[Selling to Arsenal is] not something we're interested in. They weren't bids that we would accept because the player is not available for sale. I don't think we could say his demeanor has changed, he's been professional throughout.

"It's business as usual. Nobody will know more than Luis how much he's loved by the football club. I'm sure he'll stay."

If Suarez remains at Anfield, then the forward will miss the first six games of the season due to a 10-match ban issued by the Football Association last season for biting the arm of Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic.