Various reports are suggesting Liverpool winger Raheem Sterling will inform the club of his intention to leave at the end of the season, with the England international wanting a move away to a side challenging for trophies. Liverpool haven’t released any statement claiming otherwise, which suggests the 20-year-old will indeed be out of the door for the right price this summer.
Manager Brendan Rodgers was public in his desire to keep the young winger, and long-serving captain Steven Gerrard has urged Sterling to stay and play for a manager who greatly believes in his ability. However, the last few months of the season has seen Sterling edge closer and closer to the door. He’s made ill-advised comments in an unsanctioned interview, and the failure of Liverpool to secure Champions League football or any majority trophy is the nail in the coffin of his departure.
Sterling has enjoyed a lukewarm season, scoring seven goals and making as many assists in the Premier League for the Reds. He’s shone for his club and country over the last 18 months, which has unsurprisingly seen his stock rise too. Manchester City are one club linked with his services, but there’s been little other interest from sides who can meet Liverpool’s inevitable lofty asking price.
Signed from Queens Park Rangers in 2010, the talented winger has become one of the best young talents in the Premier League, and admitted only recently that his decision to stall talks over a £100K-a-week contract with Liverpool were down to his desire to win trophies. Such comments spell the end for his time at Anfield, and the club will now be planning on how to spend his money.
Interest is expected to rise in Sterling’s services this summer, due to his age and impressive record of goals and assists in the last two seasons. Liverpool haven’t been able to retain any of their top talents in recent years, losing Luis Suarez to Barcelona, and now Sterling could be off too. Considering their poor end to the season, finishing outside of the top-four, the last thing Liverpool needed was another campaign of rebuilding.
The Reds do have options in his absence, with Lazar Markovic and Adam Lallana both vying for more game time, so manager Brendan Rodgers now has to back the players he spent so much on last summer to deliver in their second season. Regardless, they look set to be embarking on their journey without the wantaway Raheem Sterling.
