According to the Evening Standard’s Tim Rich, Liverpool are reportedly going to reject Manchester City’s third offer of $81 million (AUD) to lure away winger Raheem Sterling from Anfield, but apparently the Reds would be open to accepting an improved offer.
Liverpool’s public position is that they will hold the 20-year-old, who has demanded $307,000 a week, to the two remaining years of his contract at $61,000 a week and let him go for nothing in the summer of 2017.
It is a bully move by the club who seem more intent on making a public statement to the player than making smart football decisions.
The fact is, Liverpool have a fledgling starlet that has outgrown his contract and is looking for bigger opportunities at a Champions League club.
Sterling has repeatedly demanded a move away from the club with his agent previously going on record and stating that Sterling would not resign with Liverpool even if the club offered him $1.8 million a week. Raheem’s agent Aidy Ward has built up quite a reputation for coming out with daft and outlandish statements, but regardless it has been made abundantly clear over the last couple of months that Sterling has very little interest in extending his stay on Merseyside.
For Liverpool, they seem to be letting emotion cloud their judgement with Raheem and appear to be hellbent on sending a message to the player that he is not bigger than the club, something that you can often not put a price tag on.
Liverpool’s justification for not offering Sterling wage parity with teammate Daniel Sturridge is that they will not give in to the demands of the player, but at what point does sending a message clout the actual estimated worth of the player?
If Sterling was at a Tottenham or a Southampton, would Liverpool be willing to break their record transfer fee of $71 million for the player? Probably not, so why would they turn down an offer of $81 million from City?
Firstly, Liverpool may know that City have the funds and are most likely testing to see if City will increase their offer. If Liverpool are going to let one of their best young English talents walk to a perceived rival, you can bet they’re going to try and soak every last penny out of the club that’s buying.
Secondly, Liverpool may be holding out for a better offer. The Reds decision makers seem to have no problem in letting Sterling sweat it out while they deliberate over his future, they may be willing to see if any other clubs come out and top City’s lucrative offer. Although Real Madrid have been reportedly monitoring the situation for sometime, it is difficult seeing Madrid improving on City’s offer given the current crop of attacking talent they have at the Bernabeu.
Thirdly, they may be hoping for a miraculous turnaround in Sterling’s attitude by the start of the next season and are hoping he comes full circle and reinvigorates his passion and desire to play for Liverpool. Very unlikely, but Liverpool have had a history of holding out hope on bust signings so holding out hope for Sterling is right in their wheelhouse.
However, the Reds choose to handle the Sterling situation, they have come off as quite petty and would probably handle a number of different elements to the situation differently next time, but there is no doubt that Brendan Rodgers’ side could benefit from the funds that a Sterling sale would provide.
If Liverpool are looking to get back into Champions League football next season, they’re going to have to make a number of improvements and sign some quality players that can make amends for how the Luis Suarez money was spent last summer.
Liverpool need to find a replacement for Steven Gerrard in midfield, a proven striker than can either play alongside Daniel Sturridge or at least provide cover for when he inevitably gets injured, and they could also use some money on fixing up their defence as Liverpool conceded 10 more goals than any top four team.
The Sterling situation has been drawn out for quite sometime now and only time will tell what Liverpool value more – sending a message to an individual or rebuilding their football team.
TJ
Guest
Surely BR will make the right call and offload him for £50m! (Providing FSG let him do his job!) I've broken down the side in positions (predominately first team, without juniors) and some interesting stats are there! GK - Mignolet, Bogdan (2) FB - Sakho, Illori, Skrtel, Lovren, Can, Toure, Coates (7) OB - Moreno, Flanagan, Wisdom, Enrique, Gomes, Manquillo (6) CM - Henderson, Lallana, Coutinho, Allen, Alberto (5) Wing - Ibe, Markovic, Milner, (3) Strikers - Sturridge, Ings, Balotelli, Lambert, Borini, Origi (6) 2 biggest stand outs are 1. lack of Wingers although Lallana and Coutinho can play out wide but not leaving much in the middle 2. 6 strikers! My guess is at least 3 will go but we desperately need another world class striker alongside Sturridge Another World class CM is needed too £50 million for Sterling would certainly help If I was Rodgers, I would off load Balotelli, Borini, Lambert, Sterling, Allen, Coates, Alberto, Illori, Alberto, Wisdom, Enrique and Manquillo - (11 players) And bring in 1 each world class full back, CM and Striker plus buy Clyne Selling all the players above should cover most of the costs if FSG are too concerned about digging deep Lacazette, Firmino and Varane would make my decade!
Colin N
Guest
"Liverpool for vowing to keep him on his contract of 30k a week" He wouldn't be on 30k a week if he had accepted Liverpool's offer of 100k, would he? Liverpool offered an excellent amount of money for a guy who's hardly proved himself on a consistent basis.
144
Roar Guru
Sterling is nothing without Sturridge or Suarez to help him. i agree with a previous comment. his source for his greatness last season was because of their help.
144
Roar Guru
Sterling isnt worth the money With Sureaz gone and sturridge often out, he can't perform his best i dont think they were the source of his brilliance last season
144
Roar Guru
Milner often plays on the right. Silva plays no.10 but is also played on the left wing as well, more often last season than this season
The artist formerly known as Punter
Guest
If comparing Kewell's role, are you saying Torres was injured for most of his time at Chelsea!!!!
AZ_RBB
Guest
Little harsh. He scored 6 goals in Chelsea's successful Uefa Cup campaign and 4 goals in their UCL win. He was the 4th highest goalscorer in that Europa League and was up there with goals and assists in that UCL season. He was nowhere near his peak during these seasons but to write him off as not contributing is a little harsh.
Vas Venkatramani
Guest
Steve, Fernando Torres' role in those three trophies has parallels with Harry Kewell's role in the Miracle of Istanbul. Torres was part of a great team, but did little to make it greater. His most meaningful contribution in a Chelsea shirt was to run the length of the Nou Camp and beat Valdes one on one. Torres' time at Chelsea was successful in the trophies he won, but if you want to see Torres being the once-mesmerising centre forward he once was, look no further than the times he wore red for Atletico Madrid and Liverpool. He bore no fault for not winning any trophies at Liverpool, the same he could not claim credit for the trophies he did win at Chelsea.
Brick Tamland of the pants party
Guest
It's just gotten to a level of insanity now, to think Liverpool only paid $5 mill for Kewell just over a decade ago and lets face it Sterling nowhere near what Kewell was at the time.
Jack O'Toole
Roar Guru
Right well I've clearly struck a nerve here Ciaran. Firstly both sides have been petty, Sterling and his agent for not keeping it in house and playing it in the media and Liverpool for vowing to keep him on his contract of 30k a week and then sign James Milner for 150k a week, the exact price Sterling was looking for. I know who I'd rather have going forward in the future. 1. He has outgrown his contract, I agree 100k a week is fair and I think he shouldve signed it but he has easily outgrown his current pay packet of 30k a week. 2 If you think Liverpool are going to pull more than what they're being offered at the moment I highly disagree. City may come in with 45 or 50 million pounds but that is because they're in desperate need of English plaayers and Liverpool know they have the funds. 3. Because you don't want a disgruntled payer on your books. City are paying above his value, Liverpool should take the money and rebuild his team.
Cliffclavin
Guest
Vas I thought lallana was excellent last season. Had he had a good striker to work with, like a fit sturridge, he would have been even more effective. He was injured himself and seemed to carry the team alongside Coutinho and Henderson. Would be happy to sell Sterling now for this crazy cash and get in a fit and proven striker to cover Sturridge and help Ings step up to a bigger club.
James
Guest
really you think ferdinand was overpriced? look at how many years they got and how good the man was.
RBBAnonymous
Guest
This smells exactly like the Andy Carroll transfer a few years back from Newcastle to Liverpool. In this case though Liverpool overpaid for a player not worth the big transfer fee.
James
Guest
im sorry but are you actually saying that liverpool are right to reject 81 million for sterling? the kid is good but he has had one good season and is in no way worth that much at this point.
Jim
Guest
That's the crux of the current problem. I understand what the minimum number of English players rule is trying to achieve, but in the top flight, it leads to a lot of wasted talent (Scott Sinclair anyone) and stupid prices for English players that are half decent (or perceived to be half decent).
Jim
Guest
The distortion around Sterling's value is solely because he is English. Decent English players are few and far between, young decent English players even less so - so hence transfer fees get out of control. The 20 million you suggest is what I'd value him at as well - and what he would probably be worth if he wasn't English.
Jim
Guest
City didn't sell Milner, he left on a Bosman transfer for free. Unless City had sold him in Jan or last year, they had no way of getting a transfer fee for him.
wewe
Guest
Correct!
nordster
Guest
Can expect more overpaying for english players....i think the EPL are tightening up the local player requirements.....
nordster
Guest
Id be surprised if he goes to an absolute top club like man city. I think he's better suited to a club thats more trying to challenge the established top tier. Maybe Arsenal given they havent won the league in a while. Or liverpool. Even a side like west ham if they gave him money to spend. Or maybe all the cool factor and scruffy hair has fooled me into thinking he is an outsider type?;)