8 Aug 2013

Clock ticking for Arsenal-Suarez deal

8:20 am on 8 August 2013

Time appears to be running out for Arsenal to lure the unsettled Liverpool striker Luis Suarez.

The Uruguay international's told media he wants to leave the Merseyside football club as he can't afford to spend another season without playing in the Champions League.

Liverpool reportedly told Suarez last season that they'd let him go if they failed to qualify for the elite European competition.

But Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger says his side's interest in Suarez is "on standby" after having two offers rejected by Liverpool, the latter a bid of 40-million and one pounds that the London club hoped would trigger a release clause in the 26-year-old's contract.

Arsenal are running out of time to include him in their squad for a play-off tie later this month, as players must be registered with European governing body UEFA by August the 12th.

Reports in the British media claim Suarez is considering taking legal action against Liverpool in order to force through a move away from the club, but Wenger says he is powerless to intervene.

Gordon Taylor, chief executive of the Professional Footballers' Association, says his organisation is willing to act as a mediator.