Raheem Sterling

[IJM]

Hasn't he got a point though? Even if we were lucky enough to get £50m, £60m, £70m for Sterling (unlikely, I know), we still can't spend it effectively enough to trade up from Sterling because the quality of player we need won't come to Liverpool at this moment in time.

Witness last year, loads of money from the Suarez sale, 2nd in the League, we're in the CL and we still couldn't attract the quality of player we needed to make the step up.

[The_weatherman]

Hasn't he got a point though? Even if we were lucky enough to get £50m, £60m, £70m for Sterling (unlikely, I know), we still can't spend it effectively enough to trade up from Sterling because the quality of player we need won't come to Liverpool at this moment in time.

Witness last year, loads of money from the Suarez sale, 2nd in the League, we're in the CL and we still couldn't attract the quality of player we needed to make the step up.

That's not true, we just didn't go for the right players. We tried for Sanchez and failed but otherwise we didn't seem to go for any other top quality.

[Chazza]

That's not true, we just didn't go for the right players. We tried for Sanchez and failed but otherwise we didn't seem to go for any other top quality.

That you/we are aware of.

[The_weatherman]

That you/we are aware of.

No, I think it's a very, very good chance we didn't try for other players, at least not hard. The media seems pretty clued up on us. MAybe we felt we had enough, and we probably counted on Sturridge for 75% of the games, but Firmly believe we didn't go for any other big players, we sniffed around Falcao, but maybe there is something in between Falcao and Markovic? Other teams, poorer than us with smaller budgets can attract quality player but we cant......sorry not having that, that's down to our "strategy".

[Chazza]

That's just what you 'think' though isn't it, not fact.

And which teams poorer than us with smaller budgets are attracting 'quality' players?

No way of knowing it they signed for us they would be any better than those playing already.

FWIW i think we have ****ed up big time with transfers.

[Chazza]

Tony Barrett
Published 1 minute ago

Manchester City are set to make an improved offer for Raheem Sterling after having an opening bid rejected but view Liverpool’s £50 million valuation of the forward as excessive.

However, they are hopeful of reaching a compromise that would allow the transfer to take place.

Rather than be put off from pursuing their interest in Sterling after their offer of £25 million with an additional £5 million in performance-related incentives was turned down, City’s confidence that a deal can be struck for the player has grown as a result of Liverpool establishing an asking price of £50 million.

Previously, Liverpool’s stance had been that Sterling would not be sold this summer regardless of the outcome of his present stand-off with the club. Now that position has been subject to subtle but significant adjustment and City know that, like pretty much every player in modern football, Sterling is available at the right price.

Despite the emergence yesterday of suggestions that Liverpool’s valuation is excessive and not in keeping with the £100,000-a-week contract proposal they made to the 20-year-old in February, sources at Anfield insist that was not their final offer and that it was only because talks were halted by Sterling’s camp that a further improved deal has not been put forward.

There is also a strong feeling at Liverpool that even in a domestic transfer market in which home-grown talent is bought at a premium, Sterling’s status as arguably English football’s best young player — he recently received the European Golden Boy award — makes him a special case, particularly given City’s need to recruit English players to meet Uefa requirements.

It now seems increasingly unlikely that he will remain at Liverpool, who appear to have come to the conclusion that attracting what would be a world-record fee for an under-21 player may be preferable to retaining him against his wishes.

Liverpool’s initial hardline approach, in which they publicly and privately ruled out selling Sterling, has softened in recent weeks as the player became unpopular with a significant section of his club’s fans at a time when his form for club and country has plummeted.

Having waited for that moment, City made their move and will now seek to capitalise on the breakdown in relations between Sterling and Liverpool by making a renewed offer expected to be in excess of £30 million, although the strong likelihood is that such a bid would also be turned down.

City’s interest in Sterling has grown over the past two seasons with club scouts regularly attending Liverpool matches. Chelsea, Manchester United and Arsenal have monitored Sterling’s development but City have long since been favourites to win the race.

For Liverpool, the prospect of losing Sterling within 12 months of Luís Suárez being sold to Barcelona increases the pressure on them. James Milner, Danny Ings and Adam Bogdan will all join them on July 1 but there is an acceptance within the hierarchy that much greater
investment is required.

[Liverpool]

this will be wrapped up 'undisclosed' next week....

[Yozza]

I just want rid of the greedy little toe rag

**** him & his agent

[BigChief]

Agreement eh? That can only mean player exchange that would bring the value nearer to 50.

[Leyton388]

It's a shame it has turned out like this but he needs to be sold as we can't have him causing unrest in the squad next season. Unfortunately he's used us as a stepping stone and unfortunately LFC are in that second tier of clubs which is something I thought I would never see.

Sterling has the potential to become top draw, however I think he will see a lot of bench time at city. Not a good move for him if I'm honest.

[Robbie-9-Fowler]

Given there is a 20% fee to pay to QPR it would be sensible to try and get someone off them in exchange but I'm not sure who would suit us to be honest. In fact looking through the City squad they really are carried by Aguero/Silva/Toure.

[Chazza]

Dzeko

[Shaggy]

Paul Joyce reckons Rodgers would be interested in Dzeko if we get a player in the deal (seldom happens though).

Dzeko?

Eh?

[danperkins]

He does have potential to be top class but he doesn't want to be here. He showed complete disrespect to the club & to the fans the way he went about the transfer. Also showed a poxy attitude on the pitch the last 3 months of the season, we don't need that at the club. Sick of these players with one foot out the door, seems a common occurrence at LFC every season these days.

Get as much as we can for him (maybe player exchange), let me get his money move & hopefully we use the money to try get a few players that will help us push on if no players are in the deal.

[redmike65]

Given there is a 20% fee to pay to QPR it would be sensible to try and get someone off them in exchange but I'm not sure who would suit us to be honest. In fact looking through the City squad they really are carried by Aguero/Silva/Toure.

Thinking laterally I'd want Fernando - a poor debut season for City he was boss at Porto and I wanted him last summer, trouble is Rodgers seems to have no interest in buying CM/DM type.