Suarez says he is close to signing new Barcelona contract

Barcelona star Luis Suarez insists his contract renewal with the La Liga giants is on track.

The Uruguayan has a deal until mid-2019, but reports suggest he will extend his stay by two or three seasons.

Suarez, 29, said he was excited to continue his career with Barca, the club he joined in 2014 from Liverpool.

"I look forward to helping my team with goals," he told a news conference while on international duty with Uruguay on Tuesday.

"The contract renewal with Barcelona is on track.

"I want to continue at the club, winning titles."

Suarez has already won two La Liga crowns, two Copa del Reys and a Champions League with Barca.

He was recently linked with a move to Manchester United, with reports claiming the Premier League club were preparing an astronomical €150 million bid for the player, who lifted the Pichichi award last season as the top scorer in La Liga. 

But Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu was adamant that his star forward is not going anywhere.

"We read, we listen, we see this news, but of course, our interest in this particular case is that Luis Suarez is happy at Barcelona," Bartomeu told Sky Sports. 

“We are trying to extend his contract with Barcelona and he is one of our big future efforts because he is still young, he has a vision, a lot of ambition.”

Suarez's influence on the Barcelona squad has also extended to his defensive team-mates, with Samuel Umtiti developing his own game rapidly as a result of training with the striker, Lionel Messi and Neymar.

Umtiti joined Barca during the close season from Lyon for a reported fee of €25 million and he impressed after breaking into France's starting line-up at Euro 2016.

His is back with the national team for Friday's World Cup qualifier against Sweden and subsequent friendly versus Ivory Coast and he reflected positively on the early days of his Camp Nou career.

"[Being at Barcelona] changes me and I am very happy to be there," the centre-back told a news conference.

"It's amazing [playing alongside Messi, Suarez and Neymar]. It is a pleasure to train with them every day.

"They are exceptional. It makes me grow as well. You really are focused and apply yourself all the time.

"It is for all these reasons I went to Barcelona."