Transfer Balls: Manchester City bid £44m for Liverpool’s Raheem Sterling
Transfer Balls: a look at today’s reporting on Liverpool’s Raheem Sterling.
The Daily Mirror says Liverpool’s owners are ready to stick Raheem Sterling, 20, in the reserves rather than allow him to leave for below their £50m valuation. But surely doing that would result in Sterling playing less top-level football, not being picked for England and a reduction in any transfer fee.
Steven Gerrard has heard enough, telling Sky Sports:
“I’m not happy with all that carry-on and I don’t think there’s any need for it. They all need to be men about the situation. Raheem needs to go in and speak to the owners [Fenway Sports Group] and to Brendan himself, tell them what he wants and go about it that way. You don’t have to throw illnesses in and refuse to go on tour. There are millions and millions of Liverpool fans around the world who are itching to see Raheem Sterling in a Liverpool kit. So I don’t think it’s fair on them if he is behaving like that.”
The Times hears more from the former Liverpool skipper:
However, the 35-year-old said that Sterling, who is under contract until 2017 at Anfield, compared unfavourably with [Jordan] Henderson. “Raheem and Jordan are at different ends of the scale,” the former England captain added. “Jordan’s so professional, he’s a winner, a great lad. I don’t think there’s a more fitting player to take that armband off me. I see a lot of my game in Jordan’s game and what I like about him is he’s very humble.”
The Guardian says Sterling is now feeling much better. He’s presented his off-games not to Mr Rodgers and after two days in front of daytime telly returned for pre-season training. Will he now take part in Liverool’s pre-season tour?
The Liverpool Echo says he could be. Sterling’s name has been included in Lvierpool’s 30-man squad to tour Australia and the Far East. However, the Echo concedes “it is still unknown, however, whether Sterling will actually join up with the squad”.
The Telegraph says the Professional Footballers’ Association has volunteered to mediate between Sterling and Liverpool.
As the Times notes, the PFA did that when Arsenal came knocking for Suarez:
The situation is not a new one for Liverpool, who were faced with a similar predicament two years ago during Arsenal’s unsuccessful pursuit of Luis Suárez.
At the time, Suárez’s attempts to force a move were faced down by Liverpool and after joining up with his club’s pre-season tour of Australia, the Uruguay striker ended the summer training alone before reluctantly accepting that he would not be allowed to leave.The key difference with Sterling, however, is that Liverpool will sanction his sale at the right price but, unless a deal is struck with City before this weekend, Rodgers will expect the former Queens Park Rangers player to be on the flight to Bangkok with the rest of his team-mates.
But no need to worry the Mirror says Manchester City have bid £44m for Sterling.
It is set to be £40m cash with add-ons which may still not be enough for Liverpool to accept as they are holding out for £50m. The clubs have opened dialogue about Sterling and must try and resolve it in the next 24 hours.
Maybe…
Posted: 11th, July 2015 | In: Liverpool, Manchester City, Sports Comment | TrackBack | Permalink
