Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is set to launch a £35 million bid for Liverpool's Luis Suarez as a deal for Real Madrid striker Gonzalo Higuain stalls, according to a report in the Guardian.
It is reported the Gunners have contacted Suarez's current employers to indicate a willingness to pay £30m for the Uruguay international. However, Wenger has been told an offer would need to be closer to £40m in order to be accepted.Higuain, meanwhile, has reportedly agreed to personal terms in principal, but has been ordered to attend pre-season training in Madrid on Monday, fuelling speculation the protracted move to The Emirates is on the cusp on collapse.
Wenger is under pressure to spend big on a few key targets this summer, but insists he remains committed to a "healthy" balance on transfer fees.
"If you look closely, it looks to me that there are very high transfers now," Wenger told the Guardian.
"There is a dual speed now. A very high level or no level at all. That's a big, worrying truth. Until now [this summer] you had £40m, £50m, £60m [fees] or nothing at all. It's been under £10m or around the big numbers. I don't think that's very healthy."
Meanwhile, former Liverpool midfielder Dietmar Hamann believes Suarez will be sold this summer.
When asked whether he expected the Reds to sell Suarez if the price is right, Hamann was quick to give talkSPORT a definitive answer: "One hundred percent yes, they've made that clear," stated the German.
"Liverpool will have a price in mind and if someone comes in and pays it he'll go. I'm a believer that you shouldn't try to keep players from leaving for the sake of it. If he doesn't leave now, who's to say he won't leave in 12 months time.
"It is probably out of Brendan Rodgers' hands. He's made it clear he wants to leave and he's talked about the options he's got. He's a player I would pay to watch because he's an exciting player, but it's important to not forget that that he missed 20 games in the past two seasons through suspension.
"I would like someone to come in with a big £40m or £45m offer for him. I wouldn't want to see him go but if he wants to I think it's best for both parties that he does leave." http://www.espn.co.uk/football/sport/story/221409.html?CMP=OTC-RSS
