Gabby Agbonlahor jokes he wants Luis Suarez at Aston Villa

Add as preferred source on Google

Gabby Agbonlahor has joked on TalkSPORT (Tuesday, 4.48pm) that he would have taken Barcelona veteran Luis Suarez at Aston Villa this summer, though it appears the Uruguayan ace is about to join Atletico Madrid according to reports.

Suarez, 33, has entered the final 12 months of his contract at Barcelona but it appears the former Liverpool man is not a part of Ronald Koeman’s plans going forward. BBC Sport claim Barcelona have allowed Suarez to leave, but not to a rival.

Suarez was to join Juventus but work permit issues prevented a move, before a move to Atletico Madrid was blocked by the Barcelona hierarcy – who eventually relented. It is believed Atleti will pay a nominal fee of just £3.7million.

It is believed Suarez will earn just £265,000 a week at Atleti, half of what he netted at Barcelona. Asked about Suarez, Villa icon Agbonlahor joked he would have Suarez at Villa – and claimed Liverpool fans would love him back at Anfield.

“I’d have him. If he wants to come to Villa he can come down and play for Aston Villa,” Agbonlahor said. “For me it could only be one thing, wages. But if you ask any Liverpool fan now would they have Luis Suarez back and they would jump at the idea.

TBR’s view – Where is best for Suarez?

With Suarez now entering the twilight of his career, the South American hot-head needs to join a club where he can continue to score goals. A move back to the fast-paced, physical England would be a bad move.

But remaining in the more-tactical Spain, or joining the slower-paced Serie A – and following in the footsteps of Cristiano Ronaldo – would get the most out of Suarez’s final years in professional football.