Raheem Sterling

[Paddy]

Have to say that if we do sell him, it wouldn't hurt as much as Suarez, Torres, Alonso etc.

Not that arsed, think we would replace him well, and we have Ibe to step up.

Plus he runs a bit gay.

[danperkins]

This is what happens to us every season now, we lose out best players. An unwanted trend is happening and we have turned into a selling club. Lack of champs league, money & location are all factors. It's very frustrating.

As regards Sterling and most other modern day footballers, they want to play at the highest level.... which is the champs league & compete for league titles. And sure clubs that do that year in year out, pay the highest wages & spend the biggest wedges on transfer fees.

So if it's City, Chelsea, Arsenal, Madrid, Munich etc who are after him... he'll get millions from the transfer fee, compete for titles, play in the the champs league & get a whopper wage. We aren't going to win the league any time soon, lots of teams offer bigger wages & we will be hard pushed to get into the champs league places. So you can see the reasons for him to go.

Hard to know who to believe in the media but all we can do as a club is get into the champs league & try and compete for majors honours.... without that we are vulnerable. If that isn't enough and factors like mega money & location come into play... and there is **** all we can do about it.

[Muddled]

Have to say that if we do sell him, it wouldn't hurt as much as Suarez, Torres, Alonso etc.

Not that arsed, think we would replace him well, and we have Ibe to step up.

Plus he runs a bit gay.

It won't hurt straight away because we sold all three of those when they were 27 or 28; They had already performed at a high level for ourselves and they were going to reach their peak (potentially) with somebody else.

With Sterling, it's all about his potential. It's alright saying Ibe will step up, but he's performed well in a handful of games. Sterling has done it for a couple of seasons.

Sterling has all the attributes to become a star. It doesn't feel as bad because we are seeing somebody grow. Yes, we shouldn't be entertaining talk of £7.8m salaries, but all this chat about how he's not actually that good is wide of the mark.

[The_weatherman]

Sterling has all the attributes to become a star. It doesn't feel as bad because we are seeing somebody grow. Yes, we shouldn't be entertaining talk of £7.8m salaries, but all this chat about how he's not actually that good is wide of the mark.

He's good already and will become top quality, but supporter relations tend to be damaged when players' head is turned and/or contract negotiations prove difficult. I would have wanted to tied his contract up sooner, he is the most promising youngster in Europe (Golden boy) and probably the most promising talent for us since Gerrard. It's a blow to lose him but I don't have patience for a will he go/will he stay scenario again.

[Paddy]

It won't hurt straight away because we sold all three of those when they were 27 or 28; They had already performed at a high level for ourselves and they were going to reach their peak (potentially) with somebody else.

With Sterling, it's all about his potential. It's alright saying Ibe will step up, but he's performed well in a handful of games. Sterling has done it for a couple of seasons.

Sterling has all the attributes to become a star. It doesn't feel as bad because we are seeing somebody grow. Yes, we shouldn't be entertaining talk of £7.8m salaries, but all this chat about how he's not actually that good is wide of the mark.

Not disputing his talent. I don't want to lose him, but if all this talk is to be believed or has a grain of truth to it, then his head is firmly up his own arse. Either LFC need to talk him down or get a ridiculous deal for him from the likes of City. He should be paid 110k per week at the very most.

[peekay]

Tony Barrett
Last updated at 12:01AM, March 31 2015

Liverpool are ready to play hardball with Raheem Sterling by keeping the forward to the terms of his present contract if they are unable to agree a new deal with him when negotiations resume at the end of this season.

Liverpool’s offer of a five-year contract worth about £100,000 per week has already been rejected by Aidy Ward, Sterling’s representative — it is believed that he has asked for £140,000 a week — and with the two parties unable to reach a compromise it was decided that a cooling-off period was necessary. Liverpool, though, maintain that they will not be pressurised into either giving Sterling a pay rise in excess of what they believe he is worth or selling the 20-year-old to a rival club should a resolution not be reached before the start of next season.

While there is an acceptance at Liverpool that Sterling’s value could depreciate after he enters the final two years of his contract in June, there is also a determination not to be railroaded into sanctioning his transfer regardless of the pressure they could come under.

Manchester City are long-term admirers of Sterling and the reality is that several other clubs would compete for his signature if the versatile attacking player became available. Liverpool’s view, however, is that selling him is the nuclear option and one that they remain determined to avoid, although should relations deteriorate that position could change.

Two years ago, John W Henry, Liverpool’s principal owner, blocked Arsenal’s attempt to sign Luis Suárez, saying it would be “ludicrous” to countenance strengthening a rival and it is understood that Sterling’s situation is viewed similarly, although the England player is not considered to be at the same level as the Uruguayan.

As things stand, Liverpool remain hopeful that Sterling will conclude that his immediate future lies with them but, should a new agreement not be reached, they are prepared to allow him to enter the penultimate year of a contract that earns him about £35,000 per week plus bonuses.

Unlike Suárez, who left Liverpool last summer after Barcelona agreed his £75 million release clause, suitors for Sterling cannot trigger his release that way as he does not have a similar stipulation in his contract. That will not prevent offers to sign Sterling but Liverpool’s position is that he is a key part of Brendan Rodgers’ short and long-term plans.

Having been informed by Sterling recently that he would prefer talks to be postponed until the summer, Liverpool have been disappointed that the player’s camp has indicated that a parting of the ways could occur as a result of the impasse that they remain determined to resolve.

Sterling is expected to be fit for Liverpool’s Premier League game away to Arsenal on Saturday despite missing England’s friendly away to Italy this evening.

Defeat would represent a serious setback to Liverpool’s hopes of finishing in the top four and qualifying for next season’s Champions League, a competition that Sterling’s camp believes he belongs in. Liverpool will also push for Daniel Sturridge to declare himself fit for the crucial clash at the Emirates Stadium, with the forward continuing his recovery from the hip injury that forced him to withdraw from the England squad for their games against Lithuania and Italy.


Looks like another Suarez saga in the offing.

[Muddled]

He's good already and will become top quality, but supporter relations tend to be damaged when players' head is turned and/or contract negotiations prove difficult. I would have wanted to tied his contract up sooner, he is the most promising youngster in Europe (Golden boy) and probably the most promising talent for us since Gerrard. It's a blow to lose him but I don't have patience for a will he go/will he stay scenario again.

Indeed.

It's made to look even more odd when all the chat points to his agent waiting until he's gone alone and severed ties with his company; There is a genuinely feasible explanation as to the hold up and yet we still see people grabbing their pitchforks.

[danperkins]

Wouldn't be LFC without a ridiculous, drawn out transfer saga which is played out in the media. It's exhausting being a LFC fan. No doubts a Coutinho saga will be next.

[The Birdman]

Modern contract negotiations are bonkers aren't they?
I still think it's all driven by his agent, the likelihood is he'll get more off a buying club than he would from lfc for renewing.
Hence the leaks coming out that Sterling will be leaving when both sides accepted the talks will resume in the summer.

The club's situation is that if silly money comes in (50m) then if we finished outside the top 4 that's the missing CL revenue covered, reinvest (rightly this time!) and we might come out of it stronger both FFP and playing squad.
Problem is that we'd obviously prefer to sell abroad and Munich won't pay that much for him.

So, accept stupid money from a PL rival and take your chances strengthening the squad or sell abroad for probably half what we could get.
Or, keep him and let his contract run into a final year.

If I were Ian Ayre I'd be sorting Henderson's contract out asap heaping all the pressure on Sterling as the one holding out for more money all the time

[Daniel 7]

I think Raheem, for all his promise and versatility, is very replaceable - I don't think this is anywhere near a Suarez situation where we'd be losing a unique talent our system is completely reliant on. I don't even think its as catastrophic as losing Michael Owen to Real - he is nowhere near the standard of either player.

Decent prospects can be bought in and will have as much impact as Raheem. I'm completely nonplussed by him leaving, though I would like to see how he progressed as a Liverpool player.

[McDermotX]

Wouldn't be LFC without a ridiculous, drawn out transfer saga which is played out in the media. It's exhausting being a LFC fan. No doubts a Coutinho saga will be next.

Especially when he sees what the club are prepared to pay Sterling.

Shot his load too soon etc etc

[Tee]

Let him go if he is acting like a cunt over this. He really is not THAT good and I think we have better than him in Ibe, I genuinely do.

Sterling will undoubtedly improve but I honestly think we can cope very well without him if necessary.

[Maxiedge]

hmmmmm, I would be gutted if he left. He's excels in so many things but his shooting is poor though.

[RedReet]

Club already planning for his departure by giving Kent a 4.5 year contract.

[peekay]

He is not at the Owen, Fowler level of talent yet but I think he will develop into a star at the right club.

Even if he signs the contract this summer, given his current wage expectations, I don't see him being at Liverpool at his peak. So not too bothered if he moves this summer or next as long as we get a good fee.