Brendan Rodgers will seek clarification from Luis Suarez on his future intentions in the next 48 hours, with Liverpool hopeful the striker has come to accept he will not be sold this summer.

Liverpool's hardline stance over the 26-year-old appeared to have been rewarded yesterday when Suarez reportedly told the Uruguayan newspaper El Observador that he was staying at Anfield. John W Henry, Liverpool's principal owner, offered Suarez little alternative last week when he declared the club would not accept any offer from Arsenal, or a European team, for their leading forward so late in the transfer window.

“For now, due to all of the people’s affection, I will be staying,” Suarez was reported to have said in an attempt to regain favour at Anfield. The South American journalist Martin Charquero, who is close to the Liverpool striker, also tweeted: “Luis Suarez confirms to me that he will not leave Liverpool. The recent support of the fans influenced his decision. Suarez sees it as likely that he’ll sign a renewal to the contract that binds him to Liverpool.”

Speaking after scoring and starring in Uruguay’s 4-2 friendly win over Japan in Tokyo, however, Suarez distanced himself from the dramatic U-turn. “I didn’t say that, maybe someone else did,” he was quoted as saying to Japan’s Kyodo News. “The main thing is that I am here now with the national team.”

Guardian Service