Transfer Centre

Arsene Wenger respects Liverpool's Luis Suarez stance

By Joe Fish, Reporter | 09 August 2013

Arsene Wenger says that Arsenal will respect Liverpool's decision to refuse to sell them Luis Suarez and hints that the Gunners have alternative transfer targets.

Arsene Wenger has admitted that there is little Arsenal can do if Liverpool refuse to sell them Luis Suarez.

The Gunners have had two bids, one of which was in excess of £40m, rejected for the Uruguayan, who has accused Liverpool of breaching their contractual agreement by refusing him talks with the London club.

The Reds have denied such claims, and owner John W Henry declared firmly on Friday that the Uruguayan will not be sold to Arsenal, or any other potential suitor - a stance that Wenger respects.

He told reporters: "There is nothing to add to what I said already about the transfer of Suarez. If it will be done, it will be done in a respectful and amicable way with Liverpool. I didn't read [Henry's] statements but we'll be faithful to the way we want to behave.

"To make a transfer happen, you need the agreement of three parties - the buyer, the seller and the player. We know what we want to do. The player, if I look at the statements, [does] as well. Liverpool at the moment do not agree. If they change their minds or not, I don't know. We'll respect that.

"We are looking at possibilities to strengthen our squad. Suarez is one of the targets. If he's not for sale, he's not for sale, we have to accept that. Every club has its own way of dealing with things, we have our way and we respect all the other clubs."

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers insists that Suarez will accept that his immediate future is at Anfield.