Liverpool Star Denies La Liga Link as Reds Risk Losing More Players

Liverpool striker Luis Suarez claims he has not held talks with either Barcelona or Real Madrid regarding a potential move to Spain.

There has been speculation regarding the Uruguayan's future, following the sacking of manager Kenny Dalglish and a dismal league season that saw the Reds finish below local rivals Everton. However, despite the rumours, Suarez says he has had no contact with the La Liga giants and is grateful for the opportunity he has been given at Anfield.

"Being honest, I have never talked to anyone from Barca or Real Madrid. If the rumours are to be believed I would have already played for 20 teams," Goal.com quoted the 25 year old as saying.

"Liverpool have had a good season and we got to two cup finals. In the Premier League we did not finish as high as expected, but positive things have been taken. Liverpool is a 10/10 club for the support they give the players. I am very grateful to the club for giving me the opportunity to play in the Premiership," the player added.

Suarez, who joined the Reds from Ajax in January 2011 for a fee of around £22.7mn, has scored 11 league goals from 31 appearances this season.

Meanwhile, the Reds could also lose centre back Martin Skrtel in the summer, due to planned budget cuts by the club's American owners, according to the Mirror. The Fenway Sports Group has slashed transfer funds at Anfield following the Reds' failure to qualify for next season's Champions League.

Suarez has reportedly also been targeted by Italian clubs Juventus and AC Milan, while the club's Player of the Season, Skrtel, is believed to be interesting another Italian side in Fiorentina. The club is planning to offer new long-term contracts to both players but the owners' lack of ambition might prompt the star duo to leave Merseyside.

Finally, veteran defender Jamie Carragher has hinted it could be a long wait before Liverpool win the league title again and stressed that the priority for the next manager should simply be getting the club back into the top four. The Reds finished eight this season and the last time they won the league was 22 years ago.

"You never know. I've been in the team 15 years and we've challenged for the title only a couple of times. The next stage for us is to get into the Champions League, but that will happen. Football goes in cycles and we'll get back in there, and then challenge for the title. I've come close a couple of times, but hopefully in the future we can go one step further," the Sun quoted the defender as saying.

"But at the moment I don't think the title is in everyone's mind, I think top four first. Let's try and get back in there as quickly as we can. Then once you cement our place in there, we establish ourselves and go again, as we did with Gerard Houllier and Rafa Benitez. Liverpool fans probably don't want to hear it, but it is an achievement getting into the top four," the 34 year old added.