PFA confirms £40m clause in Suarez’s contract does not oblige Liverpool to sell

Gordon Taylor has told the Press Association, that the clause in Luis Suarez’s contract, does NOT oblige Liverpool to sell the unsettled striker.

The Professional Footballers’ Association chief, confirmed earlier today, that the body was helping Luis Suarez, with the complicated clause in his Liverpool contract.

The player is adamant that the Anfield club are refusing to sell him, after they agreed that he can join a team in the Champions League, if they offer over £40million – an amount they have rejected from Arsenal.

Liverpool interprete the clause to mean that the Uruguayan can only be informed about the bid and they are not obliged to sell.

Taylor said: “If you are going to have a supposed buy-out clause it should be that, but it is different as it says if there is no qualification for the Champions League [by Liverpool] and if there is a minimum offer of £40million then the parties will get around the table to discuss things but it does not say the club has to sell.

“It quite clearly states £40million is a minimum offer for discussions, but it becomes really difficult with such clauses.

“There is a ‘good faith’ clause in relation to serious discussions but I can’t say it is cast-iron buy-out clause.

“Luis is one of our members and we want to be supportive, however, he may well have thought such an offer would trigger a move.

“The interpretation is not that simple by any means and there is no guarantee of getting a (successful) result if it is referred to the Premier League.

“I just feel like in any other transfer it is better for both parties to get around the table to try to resolve it.

“You are hoping the club say ‘If you are determined to go this is the figure we are looking at but if you are prepared to stay another year and you still want to go we will accept this much’.

“At the moment it is certainly festering and I don’t think it is a good situation for the player or the clubs involved.

“It is not edifying and that is why I feel we had to do our best to get round the table and see if there are grounds for consideration for the move but it (the clause) is not specific and 100% certain.

“We are in touch with both parties to try to see if some resolution can be achieved that is satisfactory to both sides.”