Phil Thompson: 'Liverpool will cope without Luis Suarez'

Liverpool legend Phil Thompson has insisted that the club will be able to deal with the loss of star striker Luis Suarez if he leaves for Barcelona this summer.

The Uruguayan, who netted 31 times last season for the Reds, is reportedly on the verge of a switch to the Spanish giants, with a fee of around £70m to 80m mooted for the forward's services.

However, Thompson is adamant that the Premier League runners-up are in a good position to cope with his possible departure.

He told the Liverpool Echo: "Liverpool Football Club is bigger than any individual. Players will always move on but this club will still be here in another 100 years time.

"From speaking to supporters, I think it's the younger element of our fanbase who are particularly upset about the prospect of Luis Suarez going to Barcelona.

"They are more ready and willing to forgive and forget everything he's done. I do sympathise with that as Suarez is the star player."

Thompson recently claimed that the Reds had agreed a deal to sign Chilean forward Alexis Sanchez from Barcelona.