Raheem Sterling

[captainfog]

It's the Sterling thread.

Post your insider stuff in the Hendo thread.

Even with the Henderson contractual situation whilst I agree on the face of it we've let it run down to close have we been making offers is he asking for too much money or image rights or certain guarantees or are we just not negotiating with him ?

It's easy to take pot shots at the club with limited information

Does that matter? We are not offering what he wants. One party is being unrealistic and none of us know who that is. At the end of last season though the club could have told him sign our final offer or you will be sold.

It's not about players being greedy or the club being tight, its about managing the situation and protecting your assets. This is why I believe the club should make a final offer to Sterling in the summer and if he turns it down we should sell him while his value still remains undiminished by his contract length.

[captainfog]

It's not ideal, but I dare say it's something that both the club and player wanted to avoid, so as with most negotiations, a compromise will be made, rather than one side getting everything they want.

I hope so and I think you're probably right. I'm not overly concerned about Henderson, partly because I don't rate him quite as highly as most, but also because I think the club will blink first and sign him up. I just don't like being this exposed because he is a valuable asset and it would be a blow to lose him for less than his worth.

I've no idea what will happen with Sterling. Like Henderson I'd rather he stayed, but if we can't do a deal then I hope we sell him for as much money as possible. Although once his agent revolves his situation we may see things move much more smoothly.

[RedReet]

Liverpool's Raheem Sterling is going nowhere - but needs to ask who is looking after his best interests after contract snub

14:31, 15 March 2015 By James Pearce

RAHEEM STERLING’S contract situation is an unwelcome distraction amid the serious business of Liverpool’s pursuit of Champions League qualification and FA Cup glory.

Talks have stalled over a lucrative new deal and now it looks increasingly likely that the impasse will continue into the summer.

Sterling has turned down an eye-watering amount of cash. Currently on a basic salary of around £35,000 per week, which is inflated by various performance related bonuses, Liverpool have offered to nearly treble that to around £100,000 per week in a new five-year contract.

It’s a sum of money which Anfield officials believe reflects Sterling’s development and his growing importance to Brendan Rodgers’ side.

But for Sterling and his representative Aidy Ward, it’s not enough. Nowhere near.

Ward insists Sterling should be on a par with the club’s highest earners and wants parity with Daniel Sturridge, who is on around £150,000 per week.

There is a school of thought that Liverpool should simply cave in and pay Sterling what he wants. If they did that the contract would be signed tomorrow.

There are fears among supporters that if Liverpool don’t cough up, one of Europe’s top clubs will seize the opportunity to lure him away. Having lost Luis Suarez to Barcelona last summer, the prospect of seeing another key player depart is understandably a major concern.

But the reality is that in the near future there is absolutely no chance of Sterling going anywhere. His current deal runs until 2017 and Liverpool have no intention of entertaining offers for him this summer. There will be no pressure on them to sell - regardless of whether they make the top four or not.

“I’m just focused on my football, I leave the talks to my agent,” said Sterling recently. But the youngster needs to start asking himself who exactly is looking after his best interests,

It was back in October that Liverpool opened negotiations with Ward, who is in the process of splitting from Impact Sports Management and setting up a new agency.

Every week that the Reds’ latest offer remains unsigned, Sterling is losing out financially as he remains on the salary he agreed back in December 2012.

Maybe Sterling’s mind has been filled with promises of the real riches coming his way when Real Madrid come knocking.

But for all the speculation, it requires a serious leap of faith to believe that the Spanish giants would break the bank to get him. They buy off the top shelf and Sterling isn’t in that bracket - yet.

Yes, he’s supremely talented and was pivotal to Liverpool’s resurgence under Rodgers after being moved into a central attacking position back in December. He’s joint top scorer with Steven Gerrard on 10 goals this season.

But at the age of 20, he is still learning his trade. The idea that he should command the same salary as 25-year-old Sturridge is crazy.

No doubt Sterling is repeatedly told how good he’s been for Liverpool but he should also remember that Liverpool have been good for him.

Since his arrival from Queens Park Rangers for an initial fee of £500,000 in 2010, they have nurtured his career. Rodgers inherited a raw teenager in 2012 and has given him both the stage and the guidance to blossom.

At no other elite club would he have clocked up 118 appearances at such an early age. The England international has been lucky to play for a manager so committed to putting his faith in youth.

History is littered with examples of talented English youngsters chasing the cash and their careers quickly nose-diving – like Jack Rodwell and Scott Sinclair when they joined Manchester City.

Liverpool won’t back down over Sterling.

If they did it would open up a can of worms with other players’ representatives banging on the door.

It’s a tricky balancing act for clubs between rewarding success and ensuring motivation remains.

“If young players get too much, too young then it really sabotages their development,” Rodgers said recently.

Sterling needs to take another look at that offer on the table and bring this saga to a swift conclusion.

[dom9]

I'd sell the ungrateful ****er tomorrow.

Outrageous cheek.

[Frenchie]

Or play him into The ground on 35k per Week then sell him

[captainfog]

I'd sell the ungrateful ****er tomorrow.

Outrageous cheek.

Can't blame players for trying to maximise their income.

[dom9]

Can't blame players for trying to maximise their income.

That's beyond the pale though. Parity with the top earners? He's not at that level.

It's frankly a piss take.

[Boogs]

Can't blame players for trying to maximise their income.

He needs to look at his season he's had / having and expect a wage that mirrors his performances

[cream]

That's beyond the pale though. Parity with the top earners? He's not at that level.

It's frankly a piss take.

The hype has got to his head. He needs to focus on what's important, his performances lately have been terrible, head seems to be elsewhere. He hasn't made it yet, he needs to remember that.

[Leyton388]

Cheeky ****er £150k a week. Needs to stop running into blind alleys and practice his shooting before he asks for that much. He's nowhere near good enough or deserving of that much money at the minute. He isn't even at that level yet.

[Mark79]

Can't blame players for trying to maximise their income.

Leaping from £35k to £100k pw should be maximising enough for a 20 year old.
That's a huge amount for this stage of his career.

[captainfog]

Durm has caught a few with that cast off

[Mark79]

That's something of a retraction

[shanks69]

Leaping from £35k to £100k pw should be maximising enough for a 20 year old.
That's a huge amount for this stage of his career.

[BobTheCharmer]

I'm sure the lad wants to stay, but when an impressionable guy has his advisors filling his head with ideas its going to be hard. Raheem you are easily worth 150k a week, I can get this for you, you are one of the hottest young talents in Europe etc etc

He's too young to go abroad and I think he's not consistent enough for a city or Chelsea. He gets a relatively free ride here, when he chooses the wrong option he still gets our support. We realise he's young and raw. He won't get that anywhere else, as a move will bring with it attention and expectation. Hopefully his advisor is just doing his best for his client but ultimately wants to makes money for the next ten years and therefore sees the benefit of raheem staying here.

If they are adamant its 150k or goodbye, we sell to the highest bidder.