Arsene Wenger
Wenger says any move for Suarez is on hold.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger says the club's pursuit of Luis Suarez is on hold as the Liverpool striker seeks assistance from the Premier League and the Professional Footballers' Association in order to force his way out of Anfield.

The Gunners have had two bids of £35m and £40m + £1 rejected by Liverpool, whose manager Brendan Rodgers is adamant the striker is not for sale.

Suarez claims the club's refusal to accept either of Arsenal's offers is at odds with Rodgers' promise that he could leave this summer should the club fail to qualify for the Champions League.

The 26 year old, who has refused to play for the club in their penultimate pre-season fixture against Valerenga, is threatening to take the case to the Premier League and the PFA, who Suarez says are backing him.

Therefore, Wenger, who is coming under pressure this summer, having made just one addition in the form of Yaya Sanogo during the transfer window, says Arsenal's move for Suarez has stalled.

"At the moment the situation is on standby," Wenger tells Al Jazeera.

"I really don't know [what the latest is regarding Suarez], that's for sure, I really don't know what will be decided by Liverpool."

Suarez scored 29 goals for Liverpool last season as the club finished seventh in the Premier League, 12 points adrift of fourth placed Arsenal who secured the last Champions League place on the final day of the campaign.

The Uruguay international has been the fulcrum of controversy since his arrival in the Premier League in January 2011, with bans of eight and ten matches for racially abusing Patrice Evra and biting Branislav Ivanovic earning him a negative reputation.

PFA chief executive Gordon Taylor, who is liaising between Suarez and Liverpool, revealed that if the issue is taken to the Premier League the forward could remain on Merseyside.

"These buy-out clauses have caused no end of problems in the past and they continue to do so because of the way they were drafted at the time," he told talkSPORT.

"He believes the £40m amount that is mentioned, if that is offered that gives him the right to go.

"Liverpool, from their side, are saying that is a minimum figure from which they will consider negotiation and of course they will want to keep the player, unless they replace the player with someone as good or better, which is not going to be easy in a short period of time.

"There are different ways it can be interpreted. If it goes to the Premier League it will take time and the window is then closed. It is a delicate situation and we are trying to help.

"We have been asked to try and help to sort the situation out and we have been trying to do that."