Liverpool defender Glen Johnson has said that he wants Luis Suarez to stay and be a part of the "promising" team manager Brendan Rodgers is putting together at Anfield.

The Uruguayan has said that he wants to leave the club but is yet to submit an official transfer request.

Arsenal have seen two bids rejected during this transfer window as the Reds are believed to be unwilling to consider offers below £50m.

Johnson said that it was good to see Suarez when he linked up with the squad on their pre-season tour of Australia and hopes that he ends up staying on Merseyside.

"We are building under Brendan," Johnson told the Liverpool Echo. "With the owners that we have got now, you can see the foundations are there and everything is going the right way.

"If we can keep the players that we have got here, then everything looks promising. The members of staff, the players – we are all the same. We want to keep Luis here.

"It was good to see Luis back, he loves his football and he always wants to play. No matter what team you play for, it is always important to keep your best players."

Real Madrid have reportedly dropped out of the race to sign Suarez.