Liverpool and Newcastle United are both hoping to sign Sporting Lisbon’s prolific goalscorer, Luis Suarez, according to reports in the Portuguese media.
Tabloid newspaper Correio da Manha claims that the two Premier League clubs are prepared to “fight for” the Colombian international’s signature.
Suarez has had a phenomenal season, having scored 33 goals and contributed 7 assists in 42 matches.
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The 28-year-old was effectively Sporting’s replacement for Viktor Gyokeres, who left to join Arsenal last year.
Suarez was recruited from Almeria for a fee of around €23m, and he has been consistently on the scoresheet, both domestically (where he has found the back of the net 24 times in 25 league games) and in Europe (5 goals in 10 Champions League appearances).
Sporting are willing to sell
Despite his excellent scoring record, Correio da Manha report that Suarez is set to be available for the right price, although there is a stipulation that he leaves after the World Cup.
The main reason for that, of course, is Suarez’s valuation could skyrocket if he has a good tournament for Colombia in North America this summer.
Liverpool don’t need another striker
Despite the reports, we do question how strong the Reds’ interest is. Not only is Suarez in his late twenties, which means he is not the type of player the Merseyside club usually sign, but he is ostensibly a no.9.
After splashing out nearly £200m on Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike as the start of this season, the likelihood of another centre forward being brought in is very low.
The announcement last week that Mo Salah will leave Anfield at the end of the campaign means that the focus of Liverpool’s summer recruitment will be on finding a replacement. Suarez does not fit the bill in any capacity.
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