‘£40m + £1 was…’ The truth behind Arsenal’s infamous Luis Suarez bid and how it impacted Mesut Ozil transfer revealed

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Arsenal almost signed Luis Suarez in the summer of 2013, but ultimately ended up landing Real Madrid’s Mesut Ozil instead.

The Gunners were strapped for cash early in the Emirates Stadium era after building their new ground, and were subsequently forced to sell the likes of Cesc Fabregas, Samir Nasri and Robin van Persie to major rivals.

Coming through that period by 2013, the North London club were looking to rebuild Arsene Wenger’s team by adding a superstar to their ranks, identifying Suarez as their priority target.

After a protracted saga with Liverpool over the Uruguayan, Arsenal instead made a deadline day move for Mesut Ozil, signing the German for a club record fee worth £42.5 million.

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Richard Law reveals truth behind Arsenal’s £40,000,001 bid for Luis Suarez

After finishing in the top four for the sixth consecutive season at the Emirates but not challenging for the title, Arsenal felt a marquee acquisition was needed to put themselves in the conversation for major honours again in 2013.

Olivier Giroud had enjoyed a promising debut campaign in N5, but the Frenchman was still raw and upgradeable.

Suarez emerged as a genuine target, and Arsenal made their move, offering Liverpool £40 million plus £1 for the prolific number nine.

Liverpool rejected the proposal, and the Gunners never landed the player.

Speaking to Charles Watts via the journalist’s Patreon, Arsenal’s former chief negotiator Richard Law provided some insight into the unconventional bid.

“We could have said £41 million, we could have said £45 million, we could have said £105 million,” he said.

“The only thing we were trying to do was trigger a conversation. Yes, in terms of a public perception and retrospect and everything else, yeah, if we had offered £45 million, I doubt the response from Liverpool would’ve been what it was.

“It is now part of football folklore, but it was never meant to be a transfer fee. It was meant to trigger a conversation between the clubs.

“We had already settled on the player’s salary. That part of the equation was off the table, Suarez said he wanted to come. We had already negotiated what his salary was going to be. So the remaining piece was Liverpool.”

Wenger revealed that Suarez’s agent had claimed there was a £40 million release clause in his Liverpool contract, and Arsenal were merely checking this by making the offer.

The legendary striker went on to score 31 goals for the Merseysiders in the 2013/14 season, before joining Barcelona the following summer.

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Arsenal wouldn’t have signed Mesut Ozil if they’d landed Luis Suarez

Still eager to make a major signing, Arsenal activated a release clause that did exist on deadline day that summer, signing Ozil from Real Madrid for £42.5 million.

Asked if the German would’ve signed if they’d landed Suarez, Law said: “He [Suarez] would’ve been the signing for the summer, especially in terms of the cost.”

Essentially ruling out signing both with this comment, it’s debatable who would’ve made more of an impact for the Gunners, although Suarez certainly would’ve eventually pushed for his move to Barcelona.

Ozil was largely excellent across his six seasons at Arsenal, and thus, not many Gunners fans will be deflated that they missed out on Suarez.