Arsenal’s £40m+£1 Bid for Luis Suarez: No Release Clause

Why Arsenal Made the £40 Million and £1 Bid for Luis Suarez
In the summer of 2013, Arsenal made headlines with their infamous £40 million and £1 bid for Liverpool striker Luis Suarez. The bid, which was widely ridiculed at the time, was an attempt by Arsenal to trigger negotiations with Liverpool and secure the signing of the talented Uruguayan forward. In this article, we will explore the reasons behind Arsenal’s audacious bid and the subsequent fallout from it.
The Background
At the time, Suarez had expressed his desire to leave Liverpool after they failed to qualify for the Champions League. He had a clause in his contract that required Liverpool to inform him of any transfer bid over £40 million. Arsenal, aware of this clause, decided to add an extra pound to their bid in order to initiate negotiations. However, Liverpool owner John W. Henry took offense to the offer and publicly criticized Arsenal, asking, “What do you think they’re smoking over there?”
The Fallout
Despite Arsenal’s efforts, Suarez remained at Liverpool for another season and went on to be named PFA Player of the Year. However, he eventually secured a move to Barcelona for a fee of £75 million. Several years later, Suarez left Barcelona for Atletico Madrid in 2020, where he won the LaLiga title.
Dick Law’s Explanation
Dick Law, Arsenal’s former transfer chief, shed light on the club’s decision to make the £40 million and £1 bid. He revealed that Arsenal knew the figure was not a buy-out clause but added the extra pound as a trigger for negotiations. Law believed that Liverpool wanted to make a big deal out of it and that John W. Henry’s criticism was a way to deflect attention from losing their star player. Law also criticized Liverpool for publicizing the bid, stating that it was counterproductive and eventually led to them losing Suarez.
The Importance of Discretion
Law emphasized that Arsenal had always prided themselves on working quietly behind the scenes in transfer negotiations. He, along with Ivan Gazidis and Arsene Wenger, worked hard to maintain discretion in all their dealings. Law believed that Liverpool’s decision to publicize the bid went against this principle and ultimately worked against them.
Conclusion
The £40 million and £1 bid for Luis Suarez remains one of the most memorable transfer sagas in recent history. Arsenal’s audacious move was an attempt to trigger negotiations with Liverpool and secure the signing of a highly talented player. However, the bid was met with criticism and ridicule, and Suarez ultimately stayed at Liverpool for another season before moving to Barcelona. The fallout from the bid highlighted the importance of discretion in transfer negotiations and the potential consequences of publicizing such deals.