Former Liverpool wing-wizard John Barnes has told talkSPORT that he no longer sees an Anfield future for the Reds’ 20 year old star Raheem Sterling.
After a turbulent week involving Sterling, the club and agent Aidy Ward regarding a new contract for the Liverpool youngster, it is becoming increasingly likely that he will move on in the summer, whilst Ward stated that Sterling wouldn’t sign a new contract, “even if it was worth £900k per week”.
After Ward slated the club during the week and with Sterling’s future completely up in the air, there really is a sense at this moment that anything could happen.
Barnes feels that the Merseyside club cannot afford to keep hold of an unhappy Sterling, as it could create serious disharmony within the group.
“If he doesn’t want to stay then he shouldn’t stay.” Barnes said.
“Unless things dramatically change, I would think he would go. You can’t keep unhappy players because he won’t perform. If things aren’t going well for three or four games, it will become apparent he didn’t want to be there in the first pace.”
“They need players who are committed to the club, even if they aren’t getting top four.”
Despite the issues surrounding the player, his agent and the contract, Barnes thinks that in terms of his football and for the good of his career, he should remain at Liverpool.
“For his professional career, in terms of playing, he should stay at Liverpool because he’s not the finished article. At the other clubs that he has been linked with, he won’t necessarily be the first name on the team sheet.”
“We’ve seen it with Jack Rodwell and Scott Sinclair. I think that another two or three years at Liverpool having shown a level of consistency, then he’s ready to handle anything.”
