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Ray Parlour: 'Luis Suarez capture would be a massive statement'

By Shane Callaghan, Reporter | 13 August 2013

Arsenal legend Ray Parlour believes that his former club would be making a massive statement by smashing their club-record fee for Liverpool striker Luis Suarez.

Arsenal would be displaying a "massive statement of intent" by signing Luis Suarez this summer, according to Ray Parlour.

The Gunners, who have already had two bids of around £40m rejected by Liverpool, are poised to table a final offer of £50m in an attempt capture the Uruguay international before the transfer window closes on September 2.

Should such a move materialise, Parlour - who enjoyed a 12-year spell with the North London outfit - believes that the acquisition of Suarez would make the Emirates Stadium a more appealing prospect to other targets.

He told Goal.com: "If [Arsenal] got Suarez it would be a massive statement, it really would.

"I've always thought they create a lot of chances. I know Suarez does miss some but he scores a lot of goals as well.

"If they could get Suarez in then maybe other players who have been linked with Arsenal will be like: 'Look, they really mean business next season and I want to be at that club as well'."

Arsene Wenger, who has only signed France Under-20 international Yaya Sanogo thus far, is strongly rumoured to be poised to tie up a deal for his second signing of the summer in the form of Bayern Munich midfielder Luiz Gustavo.