Liverpool have been shocked by what has transpired recently with Raheem Sterling choosing to reject a contract worth £100,000-a-week. The England international looked set to commit his future to the Reds when a third offer was put in front of him, reported by the Sunday Mirror Sport, which was worth “six figures.” However, Sterling’s advisers were well aware of Real Madrid and Manchester City’s interest for their man and demanded £130,000-a-week. Liverpool’s American owners will have to make a quick decision now, if they wish to avoid what previously transpired with the Luis Suarez move to Barcelona, in the summer.
Brendan Rodgers hinted that though the club is keen on keeping Sterling, it will only be more money that will make him stay and that the winger could be set to leave despite more than two years left on his current deal. He said,
“Ultimately, for players and representatives, a lot of the time it’s about two things – game-time and money.”
“You see it throughout football, not just here. A player can be really happy somewhere and be content and settled, and the development of the player can take place.”
“As a manager, you want to give everything to the player to help them. But ultimately, if a player or their representative – probably more so their representative – decides that the player needs to move, that is normally what happens.”
“Raheem has made 118 appearances and has only just turned 20. We’ve got a really strong relationship but, as I said, it is about more than that unfortunately. It isn’t like 20 or 30 years ago, when people came in and sometimes didn’t even look at the contract before signing it.”
“It is a different sport now and it’s just about managing that. All I know is, that when people look at Raheem, it is obvious where his development has taken place and where the next stage should be.”
“Ian Ayre does a wonderful job here, with the owners, and the model that’s been created is to incentivise deals for young players and not give them too much, too young.”
“Of course, you still give them what their value and worth is, but I have seen it with so many young players – real top talents – who are way overpaid, then they disappear.”
“It won’t happen here.”