Sterling would be a fool to leave

Raheem Sterling would be a fool to leave Liverpool.

That sentiment is not pure emotion, it is a rational assessment.

Of course, the latest rumors to swirl around the young starlet’s apparent desire to try and force a move this summer have drawn the ire of the Boot Room’s old guard, not to mention the supporters. The latter is a relationship that may prove trickier to mend.

Regardless, Sterling should remain a Red and consider getting better counsel.

Despite the feelings of betrayal, the news cannot have come as a surprise. Yet, that pales in comparison to the shock at the timing of the story and the naivety being exhibited by the forward and his camp. Barely out of the sober glow of one of Anfield’s finest bidding farewell, leaking news like this has only served to damage Sterling’s already flagging reputation.

Timing aside, this action is not in the best interest of the player on any level. What’s worse is that Sterling and his agent lack nearly all necessary leverage to even make a move happen.

Coming off a less than exceptional campaign on a struggling side diminishes his value. At this point, any purchase of Sterling is still being made almost entirely on potential. That he has – clearly – but he is nowhere near the finished article. In fact, he has managed to work his way into quite an in-between place.

Riding high on his surging reputation last season, he won a ticket to Brazil, and began establishing himself as one of Europe’s top prospects. However, he is still simply that, a prospect.

Top players raise their game to the highest levels for the big stage. He has been woefully found wanting at the most critical moments for Liverpool this term.

While it can be argued that the manager did not always best use him this year, that does not begin to explain how ineffective he has been in key matches. For someone who claims to want trophies, far too often he has been a passenger when opportunity has presented itself with his current team.

Raheem Sterling is as much a contributor to this year’s Liverpool difficulties as anyone. In truth, a strong case could be made that he has regressed as much as the club, if not more.

Thus, the potential value of the player is not in line with the current value. Again, he finds himself strangely in-between where he is and where he might want to be. He has still yet prove much and has often played like it.

Plus, few clubs that could afford the potential could afford to play him as regularly or feature him as prominently as Liverpool. Arguably, he is not yet good enough to be a guaranteed starter on any of the Premier League clubs ahead of the Reds.

Then there is the matter that he still has two years left on his contract at £35,000 a week. While he may already be more valuable and deserving of an increase, Liverpool FC has all the leverage. For that money the club could consign him to being little more than a cup player and ruin the next two years of his development and there would be little recourse for the player. It is hard to see how the club wouldn’t exercise some muscle on this front. They have proven their mettle with Luis Suarez.

Less than two years ago, the club helped protect him when he could not find his way out of legal trouble and a potentially dangerous direction. This year they attempted to make him the featured player in the side, for better or worse, deflecting even more of his propensity to gain headlines for all the wrong reasons. It is impossible to think that the club will not be interested in some recompense, even if they saw this coming.

Perhaps, young Raheem should have a lengthy chat with Daniel Sturridge about floundering at some other big club. In fact, Brendan Rodgers should give him Scott Sinclair’s number and suggest they have a chat.

Contrary to all of the hype that surrounds Sterling, he could just as easily find himself another could-have-been rather than one of the world’s best young players.