Liverpool face summer battle to keep £40m star

Liverpool could be in for a long summer after Bayern Munich stepped up their interest in star forward Luis Suarez.

A report in talkSPORT claims the German side’s new manager, Pep Guardiola, has made the Anfield favourite one of his top summer targets.

Brendan Rodgers would be loath to see Suarez leave Liverpool but the Reds continued lack of Champions League football could help to persuade the Uruguayan his future lies elsewhere.

Suarez’s agent is Guardiola’s brother Pere and the report claims this connection could lead to a £40million bid severely testing Liverpool’s resolve.

Bayern Munich would be an attractive prospect for most players at the moment as they are in scintillating form and flying high at the top of the Bundesliga.

Arsenal were the Bavarian side’s latest victims as they were brushed aside 3-1 in the first leg of their Champions League last 16 at Emirates Stadium.

Suarez has been in fantastic form so far this season and has scored 18 Premier League goal, just one behind the competition’s current top-scorer, Robin van Persie.