Express. Home of the Daily and Sunday Express.
Barcelona plot move for under-fire Liverpool striker Luis Suarez
BARCELONA could hand Luis Suarez a lifeline to end his Anfield hell.
Just 18 months after being banned for eight games for allegedly racially abusing Patrice Evra, the Liverpool ace has found himself in more hot water.
Suarez has been banned for 10 games for biting Branislav Ivanovic in Liverpool's 2-2 draw with Chelsea, which means he will miss the end of this season and the start of the new campaign.
Barcelona - who were hammered 4-0 by Bayern Munich in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final on Tuesday night - have been keeping close tabs on the situation and have Suarez down as one of their key transfer targets to rebuild next season, according to Spanish newspaper AS.
Brendan Rodgers yesterday admitted Suarez could leave Liverpool and expressed his displeasure at the severity of punishment handed out by the FA.
He said: "Each time he makes a step forward we find ways to beat him with a stick and beat him down. I can understand if he felt like that [wanting to quit England] in a moment of reflection."
A move to the Catalan giants would offer Suarez an escape from the Premier League but, more crucially, the chance to play Champions League football.