Sporting CP will only allow Colombian striker Luis Suárez to leave if a prospective buyer meets or comes close to his 80 million euro release clause, despite persistent efforts by the player's agent to arrange a transfer away from Alvalade.
The Lisbon club has not received any official proposals for the forward, and the Sporting administration has no intention of making his departure easy. Club officials believe his representative is exploring every possible route to find him a new club before the transfer window closes.
Reports in the French newspaper L'Équipe indicated on Monday that English Premier League club Nottingham Forest was interested in signing Suárez and had initiated initial contacts. However, the news was received with surprise by Sporting management, who viewed the report as another attempt by Suárez's agent to push for a move.
While Suárez was included on a list of potential attacking targets for Nottingham Forest, he was never the English team's top priority. Nottingham Forest has instead reached an agreement to sign striker Liam Delap from Chelsea in a deal worth approximately 50 million euros.
Tensions ahead of the transfer deadline
The situation threatens to become another focal point of tension between Sporting and Suárez that could persist until the end of the transfer window. The transfer market closes on September 1 in most countries, while the Portuguese transfer window remains open until September 4.
A series of recent actions by Suárez has generated discomfort within the Sporting hierarchy. The player previously reached an agreement with a candidate for the presidency of Turkish club Fenerbahçe, while his frequent posts on social media have repeatedly signaled his dissatisfaction.
Recent issues include an incident during a training session, which Sporting downplayed, as well as reported episodes in the dressing room that Sporting president Frederico Varandas publicly denied.
Speaking on Sunday, Varandas stated that to the disappointment of many people, Suárez would continue to be a Sporting player.
Background on Sporting and Suárez
Sporting CP, officially known as Sporting Clube de Portugal, is one of the premier football clubs in Portuguese sports, based at the Estádio José Alvalade in Lisbon. The team plays in Portugal's top-tier Primeira Liga and regularly competes in European club competitions.
