Steven Gerrard remains open to signing Luis Suarez for Aston Villa in a free transfer as the striker is set to leave La Liga giants Atletico Madrid this summer, according to the Express.
Suarez has less than four-months remaining on his contract at the Wanda Metropolitano and is unlikely to sign an extension. He only penned a two-year deal with the Colchoneros after joining from Barcelona in 2020 for £5.5m after Ronald Koeman pushed him to leave.
The Uruguayan helped fire Atleti to La Liga glory in his first year in Madrid with 21 goals in 31 games. But Suarez has fluctuated between being a regular starter and an impact man so far this season. He has still scored nine goals in 25 appearances, but has only opened 17.
Suarez still believes he has the ability to play at the highest level and is keen on returning to England. The 35-year-old thrived in the Premier League with Liverpool, netting 69 goals and 39 assists in 110 games. He also made the Reds £52m in profit when selling to Barcelona.
Gerrard remains open to Suarez joining Aston Villa from Atletico Madrid
Gerrard remains in regular contact with Suarez from their time together at Anfield between 2011 and 2014. The pair may now also reunite at Aston Villa, as Gerrard will target Suarez’s transfer if the Villans’ feel they can afford his wage in a free transfer from Atletico Madrid.
A move to Serie A also remains an option for Suarez after a deal with Juventus collapsed in 2020. But Aston Villa intend to present a challenge and seize on a rare opportunity to sign one of the best strikers in Europe from the last decade – even against their transfer model.
The Birmingham outfit missed their chance at securing the 130-cap international’s capture in January. Gerard Romero reported Gerrard personally called Suarez to discuss a transfer to Aston Villa from Atletico Madrid. The forward also rejected rival bids to consider Villa.
Gerrard may be loath to miss out on a striker he once called ‘dynamite’ twice. But finances will dictate if Aston Villa can afford a transfer for Suarez when he leaves Atletico Madrid.
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