LIVERPOOL have rejected a £30million bid from Arsenal for Luis Suarez.

The ECHO understands The Gunners made a surprise approach for the Uruguay striker late last week but their offer was swiftly dismissed.

It remains to be seen whether Arsenal return with a higher bid – closer to Liverpool’s £45million to £50million valuation of last season’s 30-goal top scorer.

However, the Reds have always insisted the prolific frontman is not for sale and that remains the case. They have no interest in doing business with the Londoners.

Anfield officials had been braced for interest in Suarez since he spoke publicly back in May about his desire to seek a move.

Real Madrid, his preferred destination, were expected to lead the chase for his services but the Spanish giants have yet to make any formal approach for the 26-year-old, who is still on holiday following his international commitments at the Confederations Cup,

The offer from Arsenal comes after bookmaker William Hill suspended betting on Suarez moving to the Emirates last week following a flurry of bets reportedly placed in Barcelona.

However, a move to the capital is highly unlikely. It would make little sense considering that Suarez claimed his main reason for wanting to leave Liverpool was that he felt victimised by the UK media and his family were “suffering” in England.

Also, if Suarez does finally depart the Reds would much rather he went abroad rather than to a domestic rival.

Arsenal are looking to wrap up a £23m deal for Real Madrid striker Gonzalo Higuain and it could be that their interest in Suarez is simply a way of trying to speed up the transfer of the Argentina striker.

Suarez, who is under contract at Anfield for a further three years, was given three weeks off by Liverpool following the Confederations Cup and is expected to report back for club duty on Monday, July 22.

He will miss the Indonesia leg of the pre-season tour from July 15 to 20 but is expected to join the Reds squad for the friendlies in Melbourne and Bangkok.

Meanwhile, Liverpool midfielder Jay Spearing is edging closer to a move to Blackburn. The clubs have agreed a fee of around £1.75m but talks are continuing over the structure of the deal.