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Liverpool sign Milner and rub salt into Sterling's wounds

5th June, 2015
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Raheem Sterling went from hero to zero in the eyes of Liverpool supporters – but did he really get any worse at playing football? (Flickr)
Roar Guru
5th June, 2015
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The rumour mill got one right. For months the back pages and football websites have been speculating that James Milner would sign for Liverpool, and this week they were vindicated, as Milner took a £15,000 a week pay cut to play for the Reds next season.

Milner will officially join the Reds when his contract at Manchester City expires on July 1, with the England international believed to be unhappy with his role as a peripheral player, citing the need for more regular first-team opportunities as reason for taking his talents to Southport.

Milner is also believed to have wanted to play in a more central position, a move that has been backed by Liverpool legend Phil Thompson but also caters for the fact that Milner can step right in and attempt to fill Steven Gerrard’s giant boots.

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has expressed interest in bringing Milner to Anfield for months, and the England international’s versatility no doubt played a big role in the club’s decision to pursue him.

If Liverpool do decide that Milner is the man to replace Gerrard in the middle of the park, then more power to them, but if Rodgers has other ideas as to who should partner Jordan Henderson in Liverpool’s midfield, he’ll at least take solace int he fact that Milner is equally adept wide right as he is at just about any other position on the field.

Playing on Liverpool’s right flank is a distinct possibility given Raheem Sterling’s contract negotiations continue to linger and stall as Sterling is reportedly unhappy with Liverpool’s offer of £100,000 a week.

Sterling’s agent, Aidy Ward, was quoted in the London Evening Standard saying there was no way his client would stay at Anfield and was also quoted as saying that Sterling would not play even if he was offered £900,000 a week.

If it isn’t blatantly clear already, Aidy is not one to keep his tongue tied, even if it’s to the detriment to his client. But most believe Sterling’s refusal to sign a new contract at Anfield comes down to either money, an opportunity to play for a bigger club, or both.

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The whole saga began when Liverpool refused to offer Sterling wage parity with the club’s top earner Daniel Sturridge of £150,000 a week, which sparked a series of public thrashings from both sides, as well as from former players. Sterling’s move away from Anfield seemed more and more likely with each day that passed. But if money is the reason Sterling wants to leave, then this one has to hurt him as Liverpool have agreed to pay Milner £150,00 a week.

In hindsight, if Liverpool knew how this situation was going to play out they might have offered Sterling £150,000 a week in the first place. If you were to ask most football fans and pundits who they’d like on a long-term deal before this whole fiasco, most would have told you Sterling over Milner, given the player Sterling could potentially be over what Milner already is.

But it’s now quite the opposite, as the contract saga has become the latest reason for fans to grow impatient and annoyed with Sterling, following his mid-season holiday to Jamaica earlier this year.

Although both sides could have handled the negotiations a lot better, this is as much a direct message to Raheem from the club, as it is a valuable free agent pickup for Liverpool.

I’m not saying James Milner isn’t worth £150,000 a week, but the figure is peculiar given the fact it was the sum that started the whole saga, and now it’s been given to the man who could very well end up replacing Sterling. Comical isn’t it? It just depends who’s going to be laughing.

If Sterling turns into a world beater at another club, it’s going to look very foolish on Liverpool’s behalf as they sacrificed long-term talent for a transitional fix. But for now, Liverpool have acquired one of the most reliable players in English football and sent a clear message to one of its most demanding in the process.

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