Dirk Kuyt admits he’d love to see Atletico Madrid striker Luis Suarez return to the Premier League and join forces with Steven Gerrard at Aston Villa, speaking to talkSPORT (20 January, 9.30am).
You’d have been forgiven for checking the calendar when reports emerged this week suggesting that a bonafide Liverpool legend – one of the most iconic strikers in Premier League history – could be on his way to Villa Park.
No, it’s not April 1st.
But, then again, few would have expected to see Philippe Coutinho trussed up in wearing claret-and-blue, only four years after becoming the third-most expensive footballer in the history of the game.
Aston Villa are not only thinking big in the transfer market, they have the financial muscle to add bite to their bark. Billionaire owners Wes Edens and Nassef Sawiris are only too happy to put their money where their mouth is.
Gerrard played a major role in luring his one-time Liverpool team-mate Coutinho back to England. Could he do the same again with Suarez?
Could Luis Suarez really join Aston Villa?
“I hope (Suarez joins Aston Villa) but I’m not sure,” says Kuyt, who played alongside Gerrard and Suarez at Anfield.
“Luis had the opportunity at Barcelona to come back (to England) and he decided to stay in Spain.
“I know he loves Stevie, so he probably wants to work with him. I haven’t spoken to him (Suarez) for a while now so I don’t have the possibility to ask him. I’d love to say we will see him in the Premier League again.
“Steven’s had a great start at Villa. To add some special players… it would be great to see (Suarez) play in the Premier League again.”
Is Suarez still ‘world-class’?
At the age of 34, Suarez may have lost a yard or two of pace but his predatory instincts remain typically razor-sharp.
He scored 21 goals in just 38 games during his debut season at the Wanda Metropolitano.
Suarez even fired Atletico Madrid to their first La Liga title since the 2013/14 campaign. That was certainly one way to show Barcelona what they’re missing.
Interestingly, Gerrard once described the ‘world-class’ Suarez as by far and away best player he’d ever played with (Independent).
Given that the Liverpool legend has shared a dressing room with Fernando Torres, Wayne Rooney, Frank Lampard, Xabi Alonso and more, that was some statement.
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