The Reds chief insists the Uruguay international is vital to the club’s aim of securing Champions League football this season, calling him ‘one of the great players of the world”‘

Liverpool chairman Tom Werner insists the club are planning to keep Luis Suarez for the long term.

The Uruguay international stated his desire to leave Anfield this summer, with Arsenal having two bids for the forward rejected during the transfer window.

Werner believes Suarez is integral to Liverpool’s chances of securing Champions League football this season and says the club have no plans to let the striker leave.

“There was interest in him from other clubs throughout the summer but it was important for us to try to keep him,” Werner told the Daily Mirror.

“He is one of the great players of the world and we felt that we would be a stronger club with him than without him.

“That does not mean I don’t respect his intense desire to play in the Champions League. But it would be a very happy day next May if and when we get to the Champions League by finishing in the top four and he is part of it.

“It is our intention to keep him for a while.”

Werner maintains Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers played a crucial role in persuading Suarez to remain at Liverpool over the summer and has praised the club’s fans for supporting the 26-year-old.

“Our intention is to build a winning club and he is integral to that,” the Reds supremo stated. “The past is the past and I have great affection for him personally.

“I give Brendan Rodgers an enormous amount of credit for making sure Luis knew how needed he was at Liverpool.

“Brendan made it plain to him how much he was going to be embraced by the fans, and the supporters have been terrific.”

Suarez joined Liverpool from Ajax during the 2011 January transfer window for a reported fee of £22.8 million (€27m).