Transfer battle: Is Suarez worth as much as Cavani?

While Cavani is no longer for sale, we take a look at the stats and the reputations to try and deduce whether that is a fair statement.

Date of birth: January 24, 1987

Place of birth: Salto

Nationality: Uruguayan

Height: 1.81m (5’11”)

Position: Forward

Current club: Liverpool

Former clubs: Nacional, Groningen, Ajax

International record: 69 caps, 35 goals (0.51 goals per game)

Liverpool Premier League record: 77 games, 38 goals (0.49 goals per game)

Chance conversion ratio (2012-13): 12.2%

Suarez is one of the most enigmatic players in world football. Blessed with pace and outrageous flair, the livewire Uruguayan star is as divisive a character due to his frequent and bizarre on-pitch outbursts, which are more often than not followed by an embarrassing lack of remorse and a sharp turnaround.

Last season he scored 23 Premier League goals for a Liverpool side that were little more than average until picking up late in the campaign. He would arguably have finished above Robin van Persie in the golden boot rankings had he not sat out the last four matches due to one of his recurring suspensions, this time banned for 10 games after biting an opponent (not for the first time, either).

With Liverpool absent from European competition next season, Suarez has been linked with the likes of Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Arsenal, who cheekily offered one pound above £40m to trigger a clause that forces the Reds to inform the player of the bid, if not accept it.

Date of birth: February 14, 1987

Place of birth: Salto

Nationality: Uruguayan

Height: 1.84m (6’)

Position: Forward

Current club: Paris Saint-Germain

Former clubs: Danubio, Palermo, Napoli

International record: 54 caps, 17 goals

Napoli Serie A record: 104 games, 78 goals (0.75 goals per game)

Chance conversion ratio (2012-13): 21.8% (0.31 goals per game)

Cavani scored 38 goals for Napoli in all competitions last season, leading to his big money move to PSG. That represented a mammoth £43m profit for Napoli, who signed him from Palermo when he was viewed as a prospect.

An intelligent target man with exceptional movement and an eye for goal, Cavani helped Uruguay win the Copa America in 2011, and fired Napoli to qualification for the Champions League last season in one of the club's brightest moments since Diego Maradona's title-winning escapades of three decades ago.

Cavani is able to lead the line, play as a link forward, and is equally comfortable on the counter attack as he is with patient build-up. While he has good technique, that is not his strongest point, and he is certainly more workmanlike than the gifted Suarez.

While it is unfair to call Liverpool and Napoli one-man clubs, both have similar resources and largely played to their respective Uruguayans’ strengths last season.

The Liverpool striker’s club goal record at the highest level is not quite as good as Cavani’s, but bear in mind that the Premier League is arguably more competitive than Serie A.

However, Suarez has a better international record than Cavani, and it is no great controversy to call Uruguay better – or at least more complete – than Liverpool.

With the exception of pace, which Suarez has in buckets, Cavani trumps the Liverpool man physically; he is also more composed in front of goal, with Suarez missing a large number of chances for his club side.

But Suarez has the technical ability to create something from nothing and, while Cavani is likely to score most of his team’s goals, he is more reliant on service than his international team-mate.

Taking into account Suarez’s history – he has been the subject of large suspensions in three of the last four seasons, missing a whopping 25 matches as a result – you could arguably chop off around 10 per cent of his value as he represents a major disciplinary risk.

But you could also add that 10 per cent back due to his marketability, which is greater than Cavani’s on account of his attractive playing style.

All things being equal, Liverpool seem fair to demand a similar fee for Suarez as was commanded by Cavani.

This is limited by contractual stipulations though, as Suarez will be unsettled due to the clause requiring Liverpool to inform him of any bids higher than £40m; Cavani’s was set at £55.4m.

One should also bear in mind which clubs were interested in Cavani. If PSG or Monaco are in for a player, the selling club will demand the maximum fee, knowing those clubs can and will pay it.

Unless Monaco or PSG move for Suarez, inflated prices are unlikely to be paid. Until then, Liverpool will struggle to get what they want for their star man, and may well have to sell him for around £10m less.

That's our take... now what do YOU think?

Is Luis Suarez worth the same amount as Edinson Cavani, taking all of the above factors into consideration?

Have your say in the comments section below.