Liverpool transfers: Ian Ayre cool on Luis Suárez contract talk

Ian Ayre says Liverpool won’t enter into contract negotiations with Luis Suárez until the end of the season.

The Uruguay international has almost three years left to run on his current Liverpool deal which the 26-year-old penned at the start of the 2012/13 campaign.

The Reds were reported to be weighing up a new contract for the South American after fending off interest from Arsenal during the summer transfer window.

“We deal with every player in the same way. We renew all our contracts with two years to run pretty much,” Ayre said in an interview at the Asian Football Awards.

“As I’ve said before – when the appropriate time comes, just like everybody else, we won’t treat Luis any differently.

“We’ll treat him the same as everyone and we’ll have that conversation when it’s the right time.”

Ayre stressed the Reds plan on keeping the Uruguay international beyond the 2013/14 season.

“He is one of the great players of the world and we felt that we would be a stronger club with him than without him.

“That does not mean I don’t respect his intense desire to play in the Champions League. But it would be a very happy day next May if and when we get to the Champions League by finishing in the top four and he is part of it.

“It is our intention to keep him for a while. Our intention is to build a winning club and he is integral to that. The past is the past and I have great affection for him personally.”