Liverpool and Manchester United unite to wage war on player power - Telegraph.co.uk

But the bottom line is that for both Liverpool and United it makes no sense to strengthen a direct rival while weakening your own prospects.

There is a new reasoning at the heart of this approach and it is also one, to some extent, that has been adopted by Tottenham Hotspur chairman Daniel Levy over the sale of Gareth Bale to Real Madrid.

Levy suggested during Luka Modric's efforts to also join Chelsea two years ago that the days of his club selling to big Premier League rivals — the loss of Michael Carrick and Dimitar Berbatov to United – were over especially when those players have years left on their contracts.

Beyond that Spurs have also made it clear that, especially at this stage of the transfer window, gaining a huge fee is not in their interests. It is too late. Money in the bank is one thing but if it means weakening the team on the pitch then its value is less.

Although Spurs are reluctantly prepared to trade neither United nor Liverpool are — or insist they will not – and if they succeed then it will add further doubt to the now questionable notion that not only do footballers hold the power but that you cannot keep a player who is determined to leave.

Liverpool's tactics are partly fuelled by the saga that led to Fernando Torres leaving in January 2011. A £50 million fee was gained from Chelsea but the deadline day move panicked Liverpool into then spending £35 million for Andy Carroll, money which was largely wasted. Liverpool, and Henry, do not want that scenario to be replicated.

There is also a credibility issue for Liverpool as also outlined by Henry.

The club finished seventh last season, well adrift of Champions League qualification which is a minimum requirement both financially and in terms of sporting ambition for Liverpool. Arsenal finished in that fourth spot.

How can they then sell their principal striker to a team they are desperate to overhaul?

Again that attitude could change should Atletico Madrid relent and sell them the Brazilian striker Diego Costa.

Liverpool's hand has further been strengthened by the simple fact that there is only one bidder: Arsenal. Despite Suárez's ability no official inquiry has been fielded from any of Europe's elite. There remains the suspicion that Pep Guardiola, coach of Bayern Munich, might make a move but that would go down badly in Bavaria given Suárez's agent is the Spaniard's brother.

Maybe Real, should they fail to land Bale, might act but it is already the middle of August and the price for Suárez, even if Liverpool agreed to trade, will be far higher than had the Spanish club made an offer in June.