The Liverpool manager insists that any deal would depend on the club finding a replacement and says that the Reds are still trying to sign “one or two more quality players”

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has warned Real Madrid that any late bid for Luis Suarez would be “very difficult” to complete.

The Uruguayan has been vocal in regarding his desire to leave Anfield this summer, with Arsenal unsuccessful with two bids and Arsene Wenger subsequently admitting defeat in his chase of the striker.

However, when asked if he expected a formal approach from Madrid before the close of the window, Rodgers insisted there was little time left for a deal to be done.

“I’m sure there will be plenty of activity in these last number of days,” the Reds boss told reporters. “It is what it is and we will deal with it like we have during the summer.

“It’s very difficult at this time [to accept a bid for Suarez]. We are trying to get one or two more quality players in through the door. If we lose Luis at this stage it would be difficult to replace him.

“There might have been a point a few months ago where there was time to do it but, with 11 days to go, it would be difficult to replace him.”

One player who Liverpool were keen to sign was Brazilian attacker Willian, only for Tottenham to pull ahead with a late bid – who, in turn, are now at risk of being usurped by Chelsea.

Rodgers has commended the club’s owners and their determination to improve the squad but rued missing out on the Anzhi Makhachkala man.

“We identify the targets and then try and get the deal done financially. That’s how it was,” he added. “The club pushed as hard as they felt they could financially but it wasn’t to be. It’s the owners’ money and they will always have the final say because it’s they who run the club.

“What they have taken on here is a huge job. You have seen over the last few years they will finance a project we are trying to develop and what we have to make sure of is we get the right players and the value and worth of the player is right. It’s disappointing because this was a player who would have been perfect for us.

“It wasn’t a football reason [why the deal collapsed] and I don’t really want to go into it. That’s for us as a club really. The bottom line is he hasn’t come here for whatever reason and we move on.”

Rodgers recognises that, with their rivals for Champions League qualification strengthening, it makes their hopes of a top-four place even harder – but is keen to bolster his squad if Liverpool are going to compete.

He continued: “Tottenham could spend up to £90-odd million and they are outside the Champions League. For us it is a huge, huge challenge, there’s no doubt about that.

“But I don’t want to be defeatist. We can’t accept that. There’s no doubt quality will cost you money. We just have to try to ensure we can get quality through the door and that will give us a chance for fourth. But make no mistake about it, it’s a big ask and a big challenge.”

Brendan Rodgers is eager to bolster his back line following a serious injury to Sebastian Coates, while he denied Napoli had made a bid for Martin Skrtel

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has revealed he is looking to sign a centre-back as Sebastian Coates has been ruled out for the majority of the season.

The 22-year-old damaged the anterior cruciate knee ligament in his right knee while on international duty with Uruguay and is now set to undergo surgery.

Rodgers has also confirmed he is willing to allow defender Andre Wisdom to move out on loan.

“We feel for big Seba because he’s obviously played the latter part of the game,” Rodgers told reporters.

“He’s picked up a similar injury to what Martin Skrtel had last year, so it’s probably going to rule him out for most of the season, which is disappointing for him because he’s never given me a minute’s problem since he’s been here and this was probably the year where he needed to go out and play so unfortunately that put an end to that.

“It’s something that we’re looking at, a player to come in in that position. I really need to get young Andre Wisdom out on loan.

“It’s one to strengthen the squad but it’s also to allow some of our younger players to develop, for us to maximise Wisdom and his talent we need to get him some games and to get him out on loan, but I can only do that if somebody with a bit more experience can come in and support the ground. So it’s two-fold really, but it’s certainly a position that we’re looking at.”

Rodgers also denied reports suggesting that Liverpool had rejected a bid from Napoli for Martin Skrtel.

“I haven’t been told anything about that whatsoever,” he said.

“It was mentioned this morning but it was the first I’d heard of it. Ian Ayre does a terrific job and informs me straight away, but I haven’t heard anything.”

Following two bids for the Liverpool striker rejected – the most recently totalling over £40 million – the Arsenal manager has admitted defeat but has vowed to bolster his squad

Arsene Wenger has admitted defeat in Arsenal’s pursuit of Luis Suarez, insisting there is “no chance” of signing the Liverpool striker.

The Gunners have already seen two bids for the Uruguayan rejected, the more recent being upwards of £40 million to trigger a supposed release clause, while Suarez is adamant the club said he could leave if the Anfield outfit failed to qualify for the Champions League last season.

But, with Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers insisting the matter has been resolved following a reported apology from Suarez, Wenger has been forced to look elsewhere.

“Yes,” Wenger told reporters when asked if a deal was dead. “Absolutely no chance of that.”

Wenger has come under criticism for failing to bolster his squad beyond the early addition of youngster Yaya Sanogo, with concern heightening following a shock 3-1 home loss to Aston Villa on the opening day of the Premier League season.

And the Arsenal boss rued the nature of the window, but vowed to add more numbers to his squad despite watching his charges triumph 3-0 over Fenerbahce in their Champions League play-off first leg.

“It is like a poker game,” he continued. “People hold their cards as long as possible and see what is happening out there. In the end, they go for decisions.

“First everybody goes on holiday and nobody wants to do anything. Then in many clubs there are manager changes. They need to know the squad before they make a decision. Many, many things but it is always like that.

“Quality-wise we don’t need anybody but number-wise we are short as I told you yesterday. We lost [Alex] Oxlade-Chamberlain, [Mikel] Arteta and [Abou] Diaby – three international midfielders. That is why we are short.

“We tried to bring one in but we are working on that. You have to understand there is still a long way to go. The transfer market starts for me now and a lot of activity will happen between now and September 2.

“From August 21 until September 2 you have 12 days, so a lot will happen. It starts now.”