The back pages tomorrow in the UK will be filled with the story that Raheem Sterling has reportedly told Liverpool that he will not sign a new deal and that he wants to leave the club this summer.
Sterling is said to have told Reds boss Brendan Rodgers before the recent 1-1 draw at Chelsea that he does not want to stay at Anfield because he is unconvinced by the club’s ability to challenge for silverware.
The England international wants to continue playing Champions League football, something that will not be available at Anfield next season, and that he also feels he is being undervalued by the current £90,000-per-week deal on the table.
Liverpool have been adamant they will not sell the player, with the manager insisting recently they will are prepared to take a stand, even if he doesn’t sign a new deal at the end of the season.
“Raheem won’t be going anywhere this summer, even if there’s not a deal agreed. We’ve made that clear from the beginning.”
That puts the ball firmly in the Anfield court, as Sterling will make clear he is prepared to run his contract down. If Sterling was to see out the remaining two years of his contract, Liverpool would receive only around £5m in compensation, which is a 10th of any valuation Liverpool would place on the forward. Which is why they will sell him this summer.
The news will have the Premier League’s top-four clubs: Chelsea, Manchester City, Arsenal and Manchester United, all reaching for their checkbooks, while Sterling could also attract interest from Europe’s big names like Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Juventus.
At this stage Manchester City or Chelsea have to be favored to sign Sterling. Not only is he one of Europe’s best you talents, but he is also English. Something that cannot be overlooked as both City and Chelsea currently will struggle to meet both Premier League and Champions League homegrown quotas.
The departure of a second hugely talented player in 12enge for trophies and he apparently does not think that Brendan Rodgers and Liverpool can deliver that. Liverpool’s modern day history was built on the club’s ability to win trophies, both domestically and in Europe. Players never left Liverpool because the club did not match their desire to win.
What does the departure of a second hugely talented player in 12 months say about Brendan Rodgers and the state of things at Anfield?
Where do you think Raheem Sterling will be playing next season?
