According to BBC’s Ben Smith, Sterling is having a meeting with Rodgers and chief executive, Ian Ayre on Friday, when he will state his wishes to be sold by Liverpool FC. The Telegraph’s, Chris Bascombe, wrote that Sterling’s agent is having a meeting with Ian Ayre before the final Premier League match against Stoke City.
Sterling has been in the spotlight earlier this year when he refused to put pen on paper on a lucrative £100.000 per week contract which was offered by Liverpool. There was so much publicity on the matter, that Sterling even went on to give a BBC interview (without the clubs’ permission) to convince the public opinion that his rejection was not about the money and that all he wants is to win trophies (that’s the interview in a nutshell).
Upon hearing the news, KOP legend Jamie Carragher criticized the Jamaican-born English footballer of bullying the club. Carragher has stated before and now that Raheem is still not proven at the big stage and that he should:
Jamie Carragher blasts Raheem Sterling over his future
“Keep your mouth shut and get on with playing football. Sterling will move on in years to come. Just keep your mouth shut.”
“A 20 year old should not be bullying this football club, I expect him to stay in the summer, but eventually leave”
“It might not be about money , it could be about winning trophies or reaching the Champions League. If it’s about trophies Liverpool were close to last year, and had a chance at this year.”
“He says its not about money, that maybe he wants to move back down to London and compete for trophies.
Sterling was an essential part of Liverpools’ side last season and has been seen as England’s brightest young stars. The timeline of his time at Liverpool so far:
February 2010 Signed from Queens Park Rangers for a fee of around £500.000.
March 2012 Senior debut (17 years & 107 days) against Wigan
October 2012 1st competitive goal against Reading at Anfield
April 2014 Played a key part in Liverpools’ title challenge scoring 3 crucial goals
January 2015 Brendan Rodgers gave Sterling a break to prevent burn-out
April 2015 Sterling gives BBC interview revealing he rejected new contract
May 2015 Sterling is reported to want to leave Liverpool
Liverpool have told Sky Sports News that Sterling is not for sale and as Rodgers’ has stated before, even if Sterling does not sign a new deal, he will not be sold this summer. With that said, Liverpool are taking a ‘risk’ of not being able to sell Sterling before his current contract ends in 2017. Of course, that is not likely even if Liverpool do not sell him this summer. Sterling has agreed to a final round of discussions with the club but does not believe that the club can challenge for silverware.
These news will not be of any surprise to the fans and surely Sterling’s loyalty and appreciation to the club that has nurtured him is in serious doubt. The fact is that Sterling has not delivered the goods on big occasions and still needs a couple of years for his full potential which is why many believe that it is a season or two too soon for him to be pushing for a transfer.
Will this be another endless summer-saga for Liverpool or a swift cash-in?
