Wenger hoping for 'amicable' Suarez deal with Liverpool

The Arsenal boss insists that the North Londoners will respect the Reds in their pursuit of the Uruguay striker but are still working "very hard" to win his signature.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger says the Gunners are working hard to sign Luis Suarez from Liverpool and is hoping an "amicable" deal can be done between the two clubs.

The striker, who finished the season as the league’s second highest scorer last season, has been the subject of a reported bid from the North London club of 42 million pounds. Despite Liverpool managing director Ian 
Ayre remaining adamant that the
26-year-old is not for sale, Wenger is hoping that the club's attempts to sign the striker can continue in an "amicable way."

"I don't want to speak about Suarez, because that's between Liverpool and Arsenal," Wenger told reporters ahead of the Emirates Cup. "We will completely respect what Liverpool want to do [and] we want to do that in an amicable way if it's feasible.

"I'm a great believer that you have to keep as much confidentiality as possible, and that is quite difficult in the modern world. We work very hard not only on the case you named [Suarez] but other different cases."

Suarez was previously found guilty of racial abuse two years ago, whlie he is also in the midst of serving a 10-game ban for biting Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic on the arm last April. Wenger, though, stated that any new signings made by Arsenal will need to adhere to the "values" of the club in order to retain their reputation on and off the pitch.

"We have values that we want our players to respect, no matter where they come from," Wenger said. "We will, of course, be very tough on that.

"This club has built a reputation, not only during my period here, but during 130 years – and the values that are very important for this club have to be respected by every player, no matter where he comes from. That will be the case with every potential signing."