Aston Villa boss Steven Gerrard will not get a reunion with former Liverpool teammate Luis Suarez, who is closing in on a return to South America.
Gerrard, who played 95 times with Suarez while the duo were together at Anfield, had been heavily linked with a reunion with his Uruguayan ex-teammate at Villa Park, with Suarez on the move this summer following the end of a two-year spell with Spanish side Atletico Madrid.
However, Villa have denied ever being in for the former Barcelona striker in a move that would have also seen him reunite with Philippe Coutinho. And it appears that Suarez is off to ply his trade in his home continent for the first time since last playing for Uruguayan side Nacional in 2006.
Reports from Mundo Deportivo claim that Suarez is very close to signing for Argentinian club River Plate, although he is currently on vacation in Ibiza and has been seen partying with former teammates Lionel Messi and Cesc Fabregas on the Spanish party island while he recovers from a knee injury.
Suarez has had an illustrious playing career and while in the Premier League, scored 69 times in 110 appearances for Liverpool between 2011 and 2014 after leaving Ajax.
Should he complete a move to River Plate soon as expected, he will be straight into the action with the Argentinian side, who are preparing to face domestic rivals Velez Sarsfield in the Copa Libertadores’ Round of 16, with the first leg taking place on the early hours of Thursday morning.
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While Villa won't bring in Suarez, they have already had a busy start to the summer transfer window.
Gerrard’s side have completed four signings so far, including beating Manchester United in landing French international midfielder Boubacar Kamara on a free transfer from Ligue 1 side Marseille.
They have also signed centre-back Diego Carlos from Spanish giants Sevilla for £26million, as well as turning loan deals for Coutinho and goalkeeper Robin Olsen from last season into permanent switches.
On the list of players heading out of the exit doors from the West Midlands this summer includes left-back Matt Targett, who earlier this month left Villa permanently to join Newcastle United in a £15m deal, having spent the second half of last season on loan at St James’ Park.
At the end of last season, Villa released eight players from the club’s books, with versatile winger Ashley Young and midfielder Conor Hourihane both now free agents.
On Wednesday, The Mirror revealed that Hourihane was on Derby County’s transfer wishlist following their relegation down to League One.
