The Raheem Sterling contract saga has been brewing over the last few months and following his recent form, his Liverpool future has come into question. The English winger deferred from contract talks over an improved deal until the summer, which fuelled speculation of interest from Real Madrid and Bayern Munich.
Former Southampton, Portsmouth and Queens Park Rangers manager Harry Redknapp speaking to Talk Sport earlier today has insisted young Liverpool winger Raheem Sterling to sign a new contract at Liverpool. He said that Sterling won’t find a better place than Anfield to develop.
Sterling made a name for himself throughout the youth system at QPR and Liverpool but it was the 2013-14 season when the winger really hit the ground running. He was aided by the formidable partnership in front of him of Daniel Sturridge and Luis Suarez who scored between them a staggering fifty-three goals. That same season he was shortlisted for the PFA Young Player of the Year.
“Sign your contract. You are at a great club, you are playing regularly, you have become an England international, you’re learning the game,” Redknapp told talkSPORT.
Raheem Sterling is still contracted at Anfield until 2017 but the clubs interested in London-born Winger keep on mounting. His previous contract is worth £35,000-a-week. According to various reports Sterling’s representatives are looking for a £150,000-a-week deal.
“Have another two or three years of playing as you are now, keep taking your game on and you will get the rewards. The money is there anyway, but you will be up there with the top earners in the world in another two or three years if you keep progressing.”
“You are at a fantastic club, one of the best football clubs in the world. You are lucky to be playing at a club like Liverpool. Get your nut down, do your job, and the rewards will keep coming.”
The 20 year old has featured for Liverpool twenty-eight times this season, scoring six, assisting seven times and creating sixty-two chances.
Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher spoke on situation regarding Sterling’s contract. He warned Raheem Sterling he is risking the wrath of Liverpool fans with his current contract negotiations. The former defender said: “The fans’ frustration though also comes from his contract situation, the longer it continues the more frustration there will be & it paints him & his advisors in a bad light.”
Back in February, Sterling openly admitted that he’s ‘happy at Liverpool FC and hopes a new Anfield contract will be sorted out soon’. Following Brendan Rodgers sides 2-0 away win against Southampton, the England international reiterated his happiness at Anfield “We’re working on it and hopefully it will be sorted soon,” he said, speaking to the Liverpool Echo.
