Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has denied any knowledge of an agreement with Luis Suárez which would allow the striker to leave should the club fail to qualify for the Champions League.
Suárez has had a remarkable season since returning from a 10-match ban for biting Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic, and is the Premier League's leading scorer with 13 in just nine games, following four in Wednesday's 5-1 defeat of Norwich.
The Anfield side successfully staved off interest from Arsenal in the summer and there were suggestions Suárez had been persuaded to stay for another season to help Liverpool attain Champions League football, on the proviso that he could leave if they were to fail.
Rodgers congratulates Suárez after his hat-trick against Norwich on Wednesday night
"There never was that before and there never was that this summer," Rodgers told the national newspapers. "I didn't sit in on the conversations but as I understand it there is no agreement of any kind.
"The contract was what it was. We want him to stay and with his contract running for two-and-a-half years, I am sure there will be something between now and the end of the season to keep him here.
"There will be a number of dependencies on that but the most important thing is that the player is happy."