The Liverpool striker previously seemed nailed on to move to Real Madrid, but last week’s reports of Arsene Wenger’s bid have caused the bookies to have a rethink

Despite Luis Suarez making no secret of his desire to play for Real Madrid, Arsenal’s recent transfer enquiry has thrown the wantaway striker’s future into doubt.

While Los Blancos remain favourites to secure the Liverpool man’s signature this summer, odds of 10/11 (1.91) represent the best price yet since he announced his intention to leave Anfield.

Arsene Wenger’s interest in the player caused odds on him moving to the Emirates to be slashed to 11/4 (3.75), but The Reds’ refusal to entertain offers from their Premier League rivals is thought to have prompted the Frenchman to return to Real Madrid with an improved bid for Gonzalo Higuain.

The Argentina international’s move to London would seemingly pave the way for Suarez to head to the Bernabeu, and conspiracy theorists may interpret The Gunners’ interest in the Liverpool forward simply as a ruse to kick the Spanish side into action.

Chelsea have also been credited with an interest in the Uruguayan star, and their struggle to bring main targets Radamel Falcao, Robert Lewandowski or Edinson Cavani to Stamford Bridge could make a move for the 26-year-old more likely, at odds of 9/2 (5.50).

Lewandowski has been told to wait until his contract expires next summer before securing his anticipated transfer to Bayern Munich, and the fact that new manager Pep Guardiola shares an agent with Suarez could make a move for Liverpool’s top scorer a convenient alternative for this season, at odds of 10/1 (11.00).

Manuel Pellegrini will also be looking to make an impression on a new side after taking over at Manchester City, and he is available at 12/1 (13.00) to seal the striker’s signature, having allowed Carlos Tevez to leave.

PSG seem determined to match Monaco’s headline-grabbing move for Falcao by splashing out on Cavani, and both French clubs are on offer at 25/1 (26.00) to make another bold move for Suarez, while Falcao’s former club Atletico Madrid are also available at that price to bring in the former Ajax man as replacement.

Elsewhere, Barcelona, AC Milan and Juventus are all rated at 33/1 (34.00) to sign the South American, although with Neymar, Mario Balotelli and Carlos Tevez already among their respective ranks, forwards are hardly the priority for those clubs.

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Al Hain-Cole is a Liverpool fan, experienced tipster and avid follower of European football. He specialises in accumulators and if you would like to read more from Al you can follow him on Twitter here.

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Following Queens Park Rangers’ relegation from the Premier League, Loic Remy looks set to leave Loftus Road but Willie Duncan believes the striker may opt to remain in London

Following their relegation to the Championship, Queens Park Rangers are attempting to significantly reduce their wage bill for the season ahead with France international striker Loic Remy the latest to be linked with a move away from Loftus Road this summer.

The 26-year-old arrived in west London last January and QPR manager Harry Redknapp had hoped that Remy’s goals could keep Rangers in the Premier League.

However, the France international notched just six goals in 14 appearances for the Loftus Road club as QPR dropped out of the English top flight.

Newcastle United were hot favourites to sign Remy before the striker opted to join Queens Park Rangers and Alan Pardew may well be tempted to move for the 26-year-old front man again as the Magpies look to strengthen their squad ahead of the new campaign.

Newcastle are rated as a 6/4 (2.50) chance with BetVictor to secure Remy’s signature at the second time of asking – although there has been recent media speculation suggesting that personal terms may prove to be a stumbling block.

Tottenham Hotspur, a 5/1 (6.0) chance with BetVictor to snap up the 26-year-old France international, are certainly an interesting contender in the race to sign Remy.

Spurs are looking to bolster their attacking options this summer and, with Andre Villas-Boas’ side having missed out on securing the signature of David Villa from Barcelona, the 35-year-old Portuguese manager may instead turn his attentions to Remy.

The last of the credible contenders in this market are Liverpool at 8/1 (9.0) with BetVictor.

With speculation continuing to mount about the future of Reds striker Luis Suarez, manager Brendan Rodgers may move for Remy as a ready-made replacement should the Uruguayan talisman opt to call time on his career at Anfield.

A move to Stoke City for Remy seems fanciful and that is somewhat reflected in the odds with BetVictor offering 20/1 (21.0) that the 26-year-old signs for the Potters this summer with the same firm also offering 20/1 (21.0) that the former Marseille striker joins West Ham United.

A move to Sam Allardyce’s men, though, is highly unlikely given that the Hammers have just splashed out to secure the services of Andy Carroll on a permanent contract from Liverpool.

Newcastle United appear to be justifiable favourites to land Remy but a move to the Magpies may not prove as appealing to the 26-year-old should Spurs come calling and Alan Pardew may be left disappointed once more.

A switch to White Hart Lane – with European football on the horizon and, arguably, a more realistic prospect of challenging for silverware – is likely to prove attractive to Remy.

With that in mind, the 5/1 (6.0) quote from BetVictor for the Lilywhites to sign Loic Remy before September 1st is the recommended play in this market.

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Willie Duncan is a freelance sports journalist. Willie, from Edinburgh, has covered Scottish football for over 10 years and he specialises in football betting markets from across Europe. You can also follow Willie on Twitter

Tracked by Liverpool, Tottenham and Chelsea, the 22-year-old knows how desirable he is after a sensational first Premier League season, and has picked his moment perfectly

COMMENT
By Liam Twomey

To some, it was ungrateful. To others, understandable. But whoever you are, nobody can deny that, with Aston Villa’s confirmation late on Monday that he has submitted a formal transfer request, Christian Benteke has got your attention.

And that, of course, is the point. The 22-year-old’s stock could barely be higher after a sensational first season in England which saw him score 19 Premier League goals in a struggling side.

What better time than now, then, to expose the pressing nature of his ambition? Last month Goal reported that Liverpool and Tottenham had made enquiries about him. Now Chelsea have joined the chase. Benteke knows how desirable he is, and has picked his moment perfectly.

Many of a Villa persuasion will view his actions as anything from ingratitude to outright betrayal.

Benteke got his chance in the Premier League because Paul Lambert was willing to stake €8.1 million of a limited transfer budget on his talent, and a foolish red card against Chelsea on May 11 briefly left his club facing the prospect of a final-day relegation play-off with Wigan, shorn of the man who had a direct hand in 40 per cent of their league goals last season.

But few within football see things in such moralistic terms. Benteke himself would no doubt argue, with justification, that his 23 goals in all competitions and consistently stellar performances ensured Villa’s investment was more than aptly repaid. If, as expected, he commands a big fee this summer, the relationship will become even more lucrative for owner Randy Lerner.

In a bullish statement, Villa insisted they are not inclined to sell their star man for anything less than their valuation – unlikely to be under the €23m mark – while Lambert was at pains to leave the door open for reconciliation, though his words carried an air of desperation.

The bottom line is that the cards are stacked in Benteke’s favour. Lerner will be inclined to accept a generous enough offer, the Belgian’s current €23,000-a-week wages mean personal terms will almost certainly not be an obstacle, and there are simply too many interested parties to make another season at Villa Park a likely ending to the transfer saga that is now inevitable.

Yet there is no reason why Villa cannot also emerge from this as winners. The two questions which remain are ‘how much?’ and ‘who to?’ The answers will be conditioned by the strength of Lerner’s resolve and the level of anxiety in those searching for attacking reinforcements this summer.

In this regard, the early signs are good for Villa. Chelsea have missed out on Radamel Falcao and Edinson Cavani to Ligue 1’s emerging superpowers, Robert Lewandowski has his heart set on Bayern Munich, and Manchester United appear once more, at least publicly, to be laying claim to Wayne Rooney’s future.

Top-class options are growing thin on the ground, but Jose Mourinho still needs more than a faded Fernando Torres, below-par Demba Ba and an unrefined Romelu Lukaku.

Tottenham, meanwhile, have missed out on Andre Villas-Boas’ No.1 target, David Villa, while long-time muse Leandro Damiao is being courted by Napoli and Southampton. A new striker remains a must, and Benteke fits the classic Daniel Levy mould: young, talented and no threat to the prized wage structure.

Liverpool’s sincerity of interest depends on the realisation – and timing – of Luis Suarez’s desired departure to Real Madrid. Arsenal – Benteke’s boyhood club – are pre-occupied with haggling over a fee for Gonzalo Higuain, but an audacious enquiry and rumoured bid for the Merseysiders’ unsettled Uruguayan indicates they are prepared to consider lavishly expensive alternatives should talks with los Blancos collapse.

A bidding war would benefit Benteke and Villa, while increasing the risk for his inevitable buyer. As some have learned to their cost, debut seasons are not always a reliable sample size for judging a prospective big-money purchase. Michael Ricketts scored 15 Premier League goals in his, while Andy Carroll scored 11 in his first five months in the top flight.

Yet watching the Belgian’s lightning adaptation to the English game over the past year, it is clear his success is not simply down to soaring confidence, blind luck or a polished gameplan specifically designed to hide glaring weaknesses – mainly because he does not appear to have any.

Surprisingly fast, formidably strong, technically slick and increasingly clinical with either foot or head, he has all the makings of a fearsome, intelligent, modern European striker.

Paying a marquee price at this stage would be a gamble, but not an outrageous one. There are no guarantees in football, but Benteke already looks capable of enhancing almost any attack in the Premier League, and logic suggests there is further improvement to come.

Judging by his actions on Monday, the man himself believes so too.

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