Liverpool could find themselves losing their best player next season, with Luis Suarez admitting he would consider a move to Bayern Munich if the German giants made a bid for him in the summer.
Suarez has been the standout player for Liverpool by far and one of the prime candidates for player of the year.
The Uruguayan was again in brilliant for Liverpool in their 3-1 win over Zenit St. Petersburg in the Europa League, although the Reds did go out of the tournament on the away goals rule.
Speculation has been rife over Suarez's future with Liverpool looking unlikely to qualify for the Champions League yet again next season.
Bayern's manager-to-be Pep Guardiola has reportedly made Suarez his No. 1 priority transfer in the summer and the fact that Suarez's agent happens to be Guardiola's brother, Pere, it might smooth things over considerably.
Suarez himself had said earlier that he would stay with Liverpool even without European competition, although he has now revealed he would consider his options if Bayern were to make a concrete move.
"If Bayern want to make an offer I would certainly listen to it and evaluate it," he told Germand newspaper Bild. "This doesn't mean that I am going to leave next summer but just that I don't close the door to anyone."
Liverpool will not let Suarez go without a fight with the striker tied down to a long-term contract. It will take a bid nearing £40 million ($60 million) for the Reds to even considering accepting the offer.
Meanwhile, another player who could be on his way out of Anfield in the summer is Martin Skrtel, after the defender admitted his displeasure at having lost his place in the starting lineup over the last few matches.
Skrtel, who is currently on the injury list, was a rock at the back for Liverpool last season, earning him the club player of the year award, but this year, some inconsistent performances have led to Brendan Rodgers dropping the Slovakian for the experienced Jamie Carragher.
"It all happened after our match with Man United in the middle of January, before that match, we had won twice 3-0 in the league -- at QPR and at home we beat Sunderland," Skrtel said.
"In Manchester we lost 2-1 but I think that particularly in the second half we played very well. But he (Rodgers) told me we had lost the organisation of play in the defensive line and that this would be the reason why I would not play in the following matches.
"I don't know which fixtures he spoke about because we had kept a clean sheet twice in a row and we won both matches. Also, we did not disappoint in the game against United.
"He selects the lineup and picks the players who will be on the pitch. At the moment I'm not among the first 11. It makes me sad but the coach has decided this and I have to respect it."
Skrtel admitted if the trend continued he would talk things over with his representatives before deciding on the course of action.
"I have come across such views that it would not be correct to consider leaving a club where you have been on the bench in four or five fixtures. On the other hand, it is hard to put up with," Skrtel added.
"I have had various thoughts but certainly I'm not going to make any hot-blooded decision. If the coach should lose interest in keeping me in his team, then we would have to handle it with my agent.
"For the present it is valid that I am at Liverpool where I have a long-term contract and I am not thinking about leaving."
