By JUSTIN FERGUSON
The Luis Suarez transfer saga is reportedly set to take a brand new turn as the courts may get involved in the striker’s quest to leave Liverpool.
Reports in England indicate Suarez is considering legal action to resolve his transfer drama at Liverpool and force a move to Arsenal. The Uruguayan striker believes his current club are not allowing him to transfer after receiving formal bids of over £40 million ($61.4 million), but Liverpool are insisting they only have to inform Suarez of any bids that meet the apparent clause in his contract.
Suarez, who has surprisingly not submitted a formal transfer request at Anfield, has previously used the courts to help out in transfer matters. Even though he lost the case against his former club Groningen, the legal proceedings eventually led the club to accept a higher bid from Ajax, where Suarez played from 2007-2011.
Although he signed a new deal with Liverpool in 2012, the striker has said in several interviews since the end of last season that he wants to leave. But no matter which club he suits up for this season, Suarez will still have to sit out the six final matches of his 10-match suspension for biting Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic.
Here are some more stories to get your Tuesday started:
MAN CITY’S NASTASIC OUT 4-6 WEEKS WITH ANKLE INJURY
It appears Manchester City’s quest to reclaim the English Premier League title will start without the services of one the club’s brightest young stars.
On Tuesday, it was revealed that defender Matija Nastasic will miss four to six weeks with an ankle injury suffered during a match in the Barclays Asia Trophy final. The 20-year-old Serbian was carried off the water-logged field in Hong Kong on a stretcher during July 27’s match against Sunderland.
Nastasic had a breakout season with Man City last season, making 25 appearances in his first year since his move from Serie A side Fiorentina. He won the club’s Player of the Month award in November as he pushed 30-year-old Joleon Lescott out of Roberto Mancini’s starting 11.
In other Man City injury news, star striker Sergio Aguero is set to resume full training later this week. The Argentinian has not played in a preseason match so far for the Citizens, who face Arsenal in a final tuneup match on Saturday.
COSTA “HAPPY” AT ATLETICO MADRID
While Liverpool try to sort out the future of a possibly outgoing striker, one of the club’s incoming striker targets appears to be content with staying in La Liga.
After returning from Atletico Madrid’s South American tour, striker Diego Costa says he is happy in Spain and will stay as long as the club wants him there.
“I’m well here, I’m happy here,” Costa said. “As I’ve been in Argentina and Uruguay I’ve not heard anything about this. I’m happy here, if the club want me to be here, I’m going to be here. I think that the coach (Diego Simeone) counts on all of us, not just me. He knows how important it is to maintain the squad, the fans know it as well.”
Liverpool submitted a £21.8 million ($33.5 million) bid for Costa last week, one that reportedly triggered a release clause in the Brazilian’s contract. The 23-year-old Costa scored 20 goals across all competitions last season for Atletico, who finished third in La Liga.
QUICK KICKS
League One side Preston North End opened this season’s Capital One Cup with a stunning 1-0 upset of nearby Championship side Blackpool on Monday. (REPORT)
Bayern Munich opened up their defense of the German Cup with a 5-0 win over fourth-division club BSV Rehden on Monday. (REPORT)
A Sunderland fan has been given a three-year ban from all soccer matches for making a racist gesture at then-West Bromwich Albion striker Romelu Lukaku during a match last November. (REPORT)
Queens Park Rangers midfielder Adel Taarabt appears to be on his way to Fulham on a season-long loan deal. (REPORT)
New Barcelona signing Neymar has a mild case of anemia, but the club expects the talented Brazilian to play in both of their upcoming Asian tour matches. (REPORT)
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What do you think of these reports? See Suarez resorting to legal action in order to get a transfer to Arsenal? How much do you think Nastasic’s injury will hurt Manchester City at the start of their EPL season? See Costa staying at Atletico Madrid?
Share your thoughts below.