Barcelona expect Luis Suarez to sign new deal despite Manchester United links

Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu has confirmed the Catalans are ready to commit the long-term future of Luis Suarez to the Nou Camp with a new deal, following recent speculation linking the striker with a big money move to Manchester United. The chief of the Catalan club is aware about those rumours but said that the former Liverpool star is eventually happy in La Liga.

Suarez moved to Barcelona in the summer of 2014 for around £65m (£72m, £80m) after leading Liverpool to an impressive second position in the Premier League during the 2013-2013, scoring 31 goals in 33 appearances.

The 29-year-old was unable to play during his first three months at the club due to a a ban for biting Giorgio Chiellini during the World Cup 2014 but has since become into a key figure for manager Luis Enrique, having scored 94 goals while providing 56 assists in 111 appearances at Barcelona.

Recent reports suggested that Jose Mourinho was considering breaking the bank to lure him back to the Premier League to lead the misfiring Manchester United attack.

However, Bartomeu played down those speculations while Barcelona are eventually in negotiations to to tie him with a new long-term deal as he considers him as the best striker in Europe.

"We read, we listen, we see this news, but of course, our interest in this particular case is that Luis Suarez is happy at Barcelona," Bartomeu said to Sky Sports when asked about the Manchester United rumours. "For me, he is probably the best striker in Europe and we want him to be with us. Right now, we are trying to extend his contract with Barcelona and he is one of our big future efforts because he is still young, he has a vision, a lot of ambition."

Suarez still has contract at the Nou Camp until 2019 but Barcelona want to reward him for his special contribution to the club recent success. Yet, the club have done the same in recent times with the likes of Neymar, Sergio Busquets and Javier Mascherano while Lionel Messi, Marc-Andre Ter Stegen and Ivan Rakitic are likely to follow the same footsteps in the near future.