Graeme Souness has urged Alexis Sanchez and Philippe Coutinho to prove their quality at Arsenal and Liverpool after failing to secure summer transfer moves.
Chilean playmaker Sanchez and Brazil international Coutinho were strongly linked with deadline day moves after appearing to put pressure on their respective clubs to sanction sales.
Sanchez was a top target for Manchester City and Pep Guardiola tabled an offer worth around £60million last week in an attempt to bring the 28-year-old to the Etihad.
Coutinho, meanwhile, was said to be desperate to join Barcelona but Liverpool held firm and rejected multiple offers to keep him at Anfield.
Now their short-term futures have been decided, Souness says Sanchez and Coutinho should look at how Cristiano Ronaldo and Luis Suarez dealt with missing out on transfer moves.
‘They could have sulked after being told to stay another year at Manchester United and Liverpool, but instead they proved their quality.
‘Ronaldo inspired United to a third consecutive league title and a second successive European Cup final before departing for Real Madrid for £80m in 2009.
‘Suarez scored 31 goals in 33 league games as Liverpool narrowly missed the title and was named footballer of the year before joining Barcelona for £65m in 2014.
‘Every player is different, of course. Some accept it, while others will be unhappy until they finally get their own way. As a manager, you are appealing to their professionalism.
‘The supporters of Arsenal and Liverpool will be looking at Sanchez and Coutinho closely this season to see what they are giving.’
Some have questioned how committed the likes of Sanchez and Coutinho will be this season but Arsene Wenger insists he is not concerned.
‘Your interest is always to perform and he is 100 per cent committed, I have no doubt about that,’ the Arsenal manager told beIN Sports.
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