Easily Liverpool's best player this season, Luis Suarez could be on his way out of Anfield with English Premier League champions Manchester City reportedly considering a bid for the talented Uruguayan in January.
According to the Guardian, Roberto Mancini has identified Suarez as one of his preferred options for a striker in the next transfer window, with City already looking at options to sell Mario Balotelli. City have also been extensively linked with a move for Atletico Madrid striker Radamel Falcao, although Chelsea are considered to be the frontrunners for the Colombian's signature.
Balotelli has been far from his best this season, even if his opportunities might have been limited. Mancini is keen to offload the striker, despite repeatedly saying he is going nowhere, with the Italian manager fed up with the off-field issues that usually arise with Balotelli.
Suarez, who himself is no stranger to off-field problems, has been in terrific form, almost single-handedly keeping Liverpool afloat. Without the Uruguayan's goals, Liverpool might well have been facing a relegation battle, rather than mid-table obscurity that they currently find themselves in under new manager Brendan Rodgers.
The likeliness of the sale, however, can be debated, with Liverpool having only Suarez available as a senior striker, with Fabio Borini currently out injured. Rather than selling players, Rodgers has emphasized on the need to bring in new faces to help reduce the burden on Suarez, who he has repeatedly termed as world-class. Rodgers has also reiterated Suarez's happiness at staying with Liverpool in the past.
Suarez only recently signed a new long-term contract which runs until 2016, meaning Liverpool have the upperhand when it comes to demanding a transfer fee, which could be higher than the £50 million ($79.2 million) demanded for Fernando Torres, when he made his move to Chelsea in January 2011, which then led to Liverpool signing Suarez from Ajax.
The other problem that City have is finding a buyer for Balotelli, whose suspect temperament on and off the field make him a difficult player to sell, with clubs reluctant to take a chance. The other option would be selling Edin Dzeko, but the Bosnian has been in good form recently, scoring plenty of game-winning goals.
