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MERSEY MEN: John Barnes, left, said Luis Suarez should be sold from Liverpool so the club can find a replacement in time

JOHN BARNES says Liverpool should sell want-away striker Luis Suarez “sooner rather than later” and find a suitable replacement.

The Uruguayan has been rumoured to be seeking a move away from the five-time European Cup winners, with Arsenal and Real Madrid reportedly the main suitors.

His advice to his old team follows the Gunners’ outlandish £40,000,001 bid for Suarez, triggering a sales clause in the forward’s contract.

However, Kop favourite Barnes, who played for The Reds between 1987 and 1997, said sell the 26-year-old as soon as possible before time runs out to buy a suitable replacement.

Speaking on talkSPORT, he said: “We've seen in the past when transfers go down to the last minute that it doesn't help anybody, especially for a club like Liverpool who, if they lose Suarez, would have to find a big name replacement.

“I'd like it to be done sooner rather than later because if it goes down to the last day, and you then have to go and get somebody, it's not ideal.

“As far as Suarez is concerned, if he's not going to be happy, then he has to go.

“We can all say, 'yes, we think Suarez is going to be a player like Carlos Tevez, who gives 100 per cent no matter what' but we don't know what his mental state is going to be if he doesn't get his wish [to leave Liverpool].”