Luis Suarez's desire to leave Liverpool has met a major obstacle.
According to ESPN, Professional Footballers' Association boss Gordon Taylor has made it clear that Suarez's club Liverpool is not required to sell him.
"If you are going to have a supposed buy-out clause, it should be that - but it is different as it says [that] if there is no qualification for the Champions League and if there is a minimum offer of £40 million, then the parties will get around the table to discuss things. But it does not say the club has to sell," Taylor revealed. "It quite clearly states £40 million is a minimum offer for discussions, but it becomes really difficult with such clauses. There is a 'good faith' clause in relation to serious discussions but I can't say it is a cast-iron buy-out clause.
Liverpool had previously demanded a £40 million offer to consider talks, but rejected two such offers from Arsenal. This led Suarez to demand a transfer; the striker even told the media that his club had "promised" to sell him if it did not qualify for the Champions league in 2013-14.
"Last year I had the opportunity to move to a big European club and I stayed on the understanding that if we failed to qualify for the Champions League the following season I'd be allowed to go," he said. "I gave absolutely everything last season but it was not enough to give us a top-four finish - now all I want is for Liverpool to honor our agreement.
"I have the club's word and we have the written contract and we are happy to take this to the Premier League for them to decide the case but I do not want it to come to that."
However, Suarez has seemingly lost the battle in this regard, according to Taylor. However, he did note that the lingering drama could be harmful to Liverpool.
"Luis is one of our members and we want to be supportive. However, he may well have thought such an offer would trigger a move," Taylor added. "At the moment, it is certainly festering and I don't think it is a good situation for the player or the clubs involved.
"It is not edifying and that is why I feel we had to do our best to get round the table and see if there are grounds for consideration for the move but it [the clause] is not specific and 100 percent certain.
The transfer window closes on Aug. 31.