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Transfer news: Arsene Wenger says it is 'difficult to predict' whether Liverpool striker Luis Suarez will sign for Arsenal

The Gunners have already seen two bids rejected

Simon Rice
Monday 05 August 2013 12:21 BST
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Liverpool managing director Ian Ayre is confident Luis Suarez will remain with the club this summer
Liverpool managing director Ian Ayre is confident Luis Suarez will remain with the club this summer (GETTY IMAGES)

Arsene Wenger says Arsenal are continuing their pursuit of Luis Suarez - but admits it is impossible to predict if the Liverpool striker will arrive before the close of the transfer window.

The Gunners have seen two bids for the Uruguay international rejected - the most recent an offer a £40m plus £1.

Arsenal have been accused of lacking class by Brendan Rodgers over that particular offer, although Wenger has said his club will do what the can to keep negotiations private.

"We try to do it properly, but a transfer is always an agreement between three parties and we have always done that until now," he said.

Wenger says Arsenal will continue to pursue new targets this summer, with the club yet to spend any of the £70m understood to be at their disposal for transfers. However, the longest standing manager in the Premier League is adamant there is enough quality already in his squad.

"Let's count first on what is here and if we can add something, we will do, but it is very difficult to predict if something will be sorted out before we play in the Champions League qualifier," he said.

"I think we have enough quality to achieve it with the players we have in at the moment and if we can have some more in before then, it's even better."

Wenger, who was speaking after his side lost 2-1 to Galatasaray in the Emirates Cup, continued: "We just want to be ready. It is important we recover a bit and we prepare properly for our next game which is against Manchester City in Helsinki, and then that we start strongly in the championship because that will have an influence on our performance in the Champions League.

"It is difficult, a stressful situation, but we did fight very hard to be in that situation and now it's time to take advantage of the fact we finished fourth and we have an opportunity to qualify.

"Of course it's always very tricky to qualify, but we have the experience of having done it before."

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