BRENDAN RODGERS has revealed Luis Suarez’s agent has declared the striker is happy at Anfield – although the Liverpool FC manager admits the Uruguayan deserves to be on the Champions League stage.
Suarez’s future has again been the subject of speculation this week with Bayern Munich continually linked with a move for the 26-year-old.
Rodgers recently met with the striker’s agent Pere Guardiola, brother of former Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola who will take over at the Bundesliga side in the summer.
And the Liverpool manager has been reassured over Suarez’s commitment, despite the Anfield outfit having been eliminated from all three cup competitions and eight points adrift of a guaranteed Europa League qualification berth.
“I had a great conversation with his agent a couple of weeks ago,” said Rodgers. “He came in and rolled it out that he was so happy here and he was keen over the next couple of years for the club to progress.
“(The agent) didn’t have to say that. He is a good guy. I was talking about the future and development and he was reciprocal in his conversation that he is loving it here.
“He has really enjoyed the season – the most productive since he has been here. He is enjoying the style and the way of working.
“His desire is to see Liverpool progress and that is why he signed last summer. I don’t feel or see anything different would change my mind.”
Asked if Suarez would stay should Liverpool miss out on European football, Rodgers said: “At this stage, I believe so, yes.
“Luis has been brilliant this year but I haven’t seen anything different that would make me feel he wouldn’t be (here).”
Juventus are also keeping a watching brief on Suarez, who Rodgers yesterday backed to become Player of the Year having scored 25 goals in 37 games in all competitions to lead the Premier League scoring charts.
“He has been phenomenal – and that's not just an opinion as his manager,” said Rodgers.
“This is a guy who had to play upfront on his own as the only striker we had for six months and never missed a day of training. He played every minute of every game and his performances have spoken for themselves.
“There are many great players in this league, but he has been absolutely outstanding. I couldn't look any further, to be honest.”
Rodgers added: “I’ve made him sort of my architect within the group. Him and I communicate a lot so I get a feeling. It is not like I don’t talk to him.
“Is he deserving of that Champions League level? Of course he is but I would be confident enough that he will be here because he is enjoying his football.
“He is playing well, he is doing really well. Hopefully we continue to keep a great player like that.
“Obviously, I can’t speak for him. You would have to speak with Luis. But this is a club that he loves.
“He is enjoying working this way. If we can keep supporting him and getting the team moving forward then he seems happy and content.”
Suarez, meanwhile, was yesterday named Liverpool’s player of the month for February – his fourth monthly award this season.
The striker scored three times in five appearances and struck up a fruitful forward partnership with January arrival Daniel Sturridge
“My form has been the same as the team’s,” said Suarez. “We know we only have only one competition for the rest of the season, but in the remaining matches, we hope we can finish in a good position in the league.”
