Arsenal prepare €40m Suarez bid

Arsene Wenger's main focus has
now switched to the controversial
Liverpool forward, as the Gunners
continue to struggle to agree a fee
with Real Madrid for Gonzalo
Higuain
EXCLUSIVE
By Wayne Veysey | UK correspondent
Arsenal are preparing a €40.7 million
offer for wantaway Liverpool striker Luis
Suarez.
The Gunners will make a concerted push
to sign the Uruguay international after
contacting the Merseyside club last week
about his availability.
There were reports on Monday that
Arsenal had made a €34.9m bid for
Suarez but the the north London outfit
are ready to pay up to €40.7m for the
Reds attacker.
It is understood that Arsene Wenger has
switched his main focus to capturing
Suarez because Arsenal are still struggling
to agree a fee with Real Madrid for
Gonzalo Higuain.
The Gunners do not anticipate making any
signings before they depart for their pre-
season tour of Asia on Thursday, but they
are actively trying recruit a marquee
striker.
Suarez is regarded by Wenger as an
upgrade on Higuain, who came close to
joining Arsenal at the end of last week
after they made an improved offer of
€26.9m.
However, Madrid are holding out for
€29.7m for the Argentine, and, although
Arsenal's interest in Higuain is still alive
and a deal has not been ruled out,
Wenger has decided to explore other elite
options.
With the biggest transfer kitty in Arsenal's
history available to him this summer, the
Frenchman sanctioned the shock move
for Suarez last week.
The Gunners' enquiry was met with a
'hands-off' warning by Liverpool, who are
fighting to hold on to a player who has
spoken frequently this summer of his
interest in a move, most specifically to
Real Madrid.
Arsenal will now make a concerted push
for Suarez after learning from the
Uruguayan's camp that he is interested in
a move to the Emirates as he pursues his
ambition of playing Champions League
football next season.
In an interview given to the Uruguayan
radio station Sport 890 on Tuesday,
Suarez claimed that "two or three clubs"
want to sign him and that he values
interest from Arsenal.
He laughed off reported interest from
Chelsea but admitted he is prepared to
interrupt a holiday in his native Uruguay
should a potential transfer develop.
"Are there any concrete options? No, so
far there hasn't been any. There are two
or three clubs who I think are willing and
the club knows that.
"I have to present myself on the July 21
with Liverpool for their tour of Australia
but no one knows what could happen.
I've already said what I have to say, and
initially I have to be there on July 21 but
maybe a phone call one day can change
all your plans.
"For now everything is going well. I am
very calm but initially I am meant to
present myself on July 21 but, like I said,
no one knows what can happen."
There is understood to be a clause in
Suarez's contract that allows him to ask
for permission to speak to other clubs if
they make a €46.5m offer. However,
Liverpool are believed to want €58m for
their prize asset.
Intriguingly, Suarez's stance on wishing to
leave England has appeared to have
softened in the wake of the interest from
Arsenal and the absence of an official
move from Madrid.
"I have to value that; despite everything
that's happened, [English] clubs still value
players for what they can do on the field,"
he said.
"That makes me think that I can come
back and do well over there. It's good
that the English clubs still want me."
Wenger plans to use a warchest of up to
€116m to make at least two marquee
signings this summer, most likely in the
striker and central midfield positions.