Liverpool midfielder Lucas Leiva says the sale of Raheem Sterling won’t damage Liverpool as much as the sale of Luis Suarez did.
Sterling, 20, has completed his £49m move to Premier League rivals Manchester City – making him the most expensive English player in history.
The England international’s departure comes 12 months after the Reds lost star man Luis Suarez to Barcelona which significantly impacted Liverpool’s season, and resulted in a lack of goal scoring power made worse due to injuries picked up by Daniel Sturridge.
However, speaking to the Liverpool Echo Lucas says that they will be able to cope without Sterling:
“Raheem was important for us, he was a young player, but we have also lost Stevie, too, and Glen Johnson. They are big, experienced players and one very good young player. I think it would be unfair to put Raheem in the same bracket as Luis. He is only a young player. He is only 20 and has to develop.
“Of course he was very important for us for two seasons. But Suarez is one of the best players in the world at this moment in time.”
Much of the summer transfer window so far has revolved around Sterling and his determination to leave Merseyside but Brazilian midfielder Lucas believes everyone should move on.
He added: “We shouldn’t start the season again talking about the players that we lost. Last year I think something that distracted us was losing Luis.
“We knew it would be hard but we just need to focus on the players who arrived. We need to make sure we help them settle. I think the team just has to adapt. I have been very impressed with a lot of the new players. The club has to move on.”
