**Liverpool and Newcastle United have entered a full-scale tug-of-war for Sporting Club de Portugal striker Luis Suárez, with his future looking increasingly likely to lie in the Premier League.**
[Correio da Manhã reports](https://www.cmjornal.pt/cm-ao-minuto) that both clubs have accelerated their interest after a blistering season in Lisbon that has put Europe’s elite on alert.
Suárez has impressed for Sporting this season. His two goals against Paris Saint-Germain back in January sent his stock soaring, and it’s continued to rise since.
A head-turning season
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He currently has 33 goals and seven assists in 42 games in all competitions, becoming the heartbeat of Rui Borges’ attack. Even Colombia have made him an undisputed starter ahead of the World Cup this summer.
Sporting know exactly what they have on their hands and are preparing for bids this summer. Fortunately for them, Suárez is locked to a deal until 2030 and has an €80m release clause.
The plan for the Portuguese club is to wait until after the World Cup to entertain offers. Suárez’s price by that point could be even higher.
Liverpool vs Newcastle
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According to Correio da Manhã, [Liverpool and Newcastle are showing ‘intense interest’](https://sportwitness.co.uk/goal-every-85-minutes-newcastle-united-and-liverpool-in-transfer-tussle-again/) in the 28-year-old.
The belief is that it’s just a matter of time before the striker follows Viktor Gyokeres to the Premier League.
Indeed, Suárez himself has admitted he might move to the Premier League at the end of the season. Sporting though, want to wait for the World Cup.
Either way, Liverpool and Newcastle are ‘fighting tooth and nail’ for him already. The growing feeling in Portugal is that Alvalade will only be a stepping stone for him.
Caution needed
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Sport Witness would urge caution, though. Correio da Manhã are among the more excitable newspapers in Portugal, to say the least. It wouldn’t be the first time they’ve gotten ahead of themselves
€80m is also a lot of money for Liverpool or Newcastle to pay for a 28-year-old striker such as Suárez. €60m is a more likely figure, but even then, it would raise eyebrows.
Suárez has a good goalscoring record this season but his previous seasons in a top league, La Liga, saw him score eight in 37 and five in 27. He’s managed 20 plus league goals in his last two seasons but one of those was playing in La Liga 2.
That would surely make Premier League scouts wary, particularly at the figures currently being quoted.