No matter the positivity that has surrounded the club in the past few weeks, there has been one saga that has yet to be resolved, that being the future of Liverpool winger Raheem Sterling. According to the Telegraph, however, Manchester City are poised to re-enter negotiations with a third offer for the player, believed to be closer to the £50million price-tag that Liverpool hold on the players head.
Manchester City’s two previous offers have been for £30 and £40million, but Liverpool are insisting that for the player to leave, their valuation must be met.
Last season Sterling was one of Liverpool’s best performers. In a season that shown little light, Sterling offered spark and a glimmer of hope. This has not gone unnoticed by City officials.
A strong season came to a sour end, as Sterling’s well-known advisor Aidy Ward told Liverpool that the player would not be signing a new contract for any amount of money the club were to offer. This, coupled with an ill-conceived BBC Sport interview, saw Sterling’s popularity hit rock bottom at Anfield, yet this approach has only hardened the stance at the club that they hold all of the cards in this situation.
After holding out hope that the player would sign a new deal, Liverpool are now reluctant to accept the departure, having brought in six new signings and strengthened many key positions in the first 11.
Manchester City are in need of English talent to abide by the Premier League home-grown player quota, and this is another factor that only helps to strengthen Liverpool’s hand further.
The Telegraph report that even though Sterling is due to report back to pre-season training this coming Monday, he could see his future resolved in the space of the next seven days.
