Raheem Sterling

[Fredo]

Millionaire at just over 18. Not bad.

[TheElephantMan]

Tarzan?!

[kingfunk]

Arf arf arf. There goes another rib.

One more rib to go and ya can go blow yourself!

[baitman]

sez agreement 'in principle' ... steady, lads

[Captain Stu]

sez agreement 'in principle' ... steady, lads

Yeah, exactly.

Hopefully he signs it and sees sense, he's progressed quickly and very well in the academy and seems to have continued that in the first team. Here's hoping he achieves his potential and becomes a superstar... for us, not someone else.

[Darkon]

Raheem Stelring agrees five-year Liverpool FC deal as Daniel Sturridge move hits snag
Merseyside Sport, Liverpool Echo
By James Pearce, 19 December 2012

RAHEEM STERLING has agreed a new five-year contract to stay at Liverpool – but the Reds' £12million move for Chelsea's Daniel Sturridge has hit a snag.

The 18-year-old winger will end speculation about his future by penning a long-term deal in the next 48 hours after his representatives reached an agreement with managing director Ian Ayre.

Sterling, who won his first England cap against Sweden last month, has been ever-present in the Premier League since making his full debut against Manchester City back in August.

Boss Brendan Rodgers had warned about the dangers of rewarding Sterling with too much too soon, but after weeks of negotiations a compromise deal has been reached which satisfies all parties.

His new deal will include a number of performance-related targets as Liverpool look to ensure he retains the hunger which has seen him make such a massive impact in the Premier League.

The Reds are on the brink of completing a £4million deal for Blackpool winger Tom Ince but their hopes of landing Sturridge have been thrown into doubt.

Liverpool have met the Londoners' £12million valuation of Sturridge but personal terms are proving problematic due to the demands of the striker's agent.

Rodgers remains confident the problems will be resolved ahead of the transfer window opening on January 1 but he has lined up an alternative option.

If the deal for Sturridge collapses then Rodgers will look to sign Paris Saint Germain frontman Kevin Gameiro on loan until the end of the season.

The France international is available having found his opportunities limited in his homeland since the arrival of Zlatan Ibrahimovic last summer.

Liverpool are keen on snapping up Sturridge, who they believe will provide a welcome injection of firepower, but they have made it clear they won't be held to ransom by the England international.

The Reds have spent more than £30million in agents fees over the past four years and owners Fenway Sports Group are determined to ensure that eye-watering figure is dramatically reduced.

As a result the club are prepared to play hardball with Sturridge's representatives who have been haggling for a number of costly clauses to be included in the frontman's deal.

Rodgers is hoping that Sturridge's desire to move to Anfield will see him take charge of the situation otherwise Liverpool will give up on him and focus their attention on Gameiro.

[spud_gun]

£30k seems sensible.

Yeah 30k a week for an 18 year old is sensible

Just shows how much football has warped sensibilities.

[TheElephantMan]

It's an awful lot of money, but relatively speaking and under the circumstances it seems like a sensible offer.

[Norbs]

Apparently Henry & Werner drafted in detective Mills from the Haribo advert because Ayres couldn't tie it up

[Kenneth]

It's an awful lot of money, but relatively speaking and under the circumstances it seems like a sensible offer.

[Bender]

Liverpool winger Raheem Sterling is set to sign a new five-year deal with the club, boss Brendan Rodgers has confirmed.
sky
Rodgers said that the 18-year-old should put pen to paper before this weekend's Premier League match with Fulham.
Rodgers said: "Hopefully it will be done in the next 24 hours. There was never any real issue, it was just a matter of time. We were always calm.

"I speak a lot with Raheem and his representatives and there has never been any issues from their side. It was just making sure that we take care in terms of the financial and football plan for the player.

"This was about a young player who has rocketed form playing in the youth teams and the reserves into becoming a full England international, so a lot has happened in his young life and it was just about making sure that there was that protectiion for him going forward.

Rodgers expects Sterling to sign
"I have always been confident that this was going to be the best place for him. The kid is very focused and devoted to Liverpool.His representatives know this is the best place for him.

"Once it gets concluded, he can start to the next part of his development and hopefully he can keep progressing."

Sterling has made a huge impact this season and earned a first call-up to Roy Hodgson's England squad for their World Cup qualifier against Ukraine in September.

He made his first appearance for the senior team in October in England's 4-2 friendly defeat to Sweden.
Sterling, who joined the club from QPR in February 2010, had 18 months to run on his existing deal.

His first-ever Premier League goal came in October when he netted in a 1-0 victory over Rodgers' former club Reading.

[Norbs]

Raheem Stelring

[Bender]

Raheem Stelring

[Neil Young]

Raheem Stelring

[meffin]