21 May 2015

£50m mega-deal? Liverpool close to making the best transfer decision in years

Liverpool have reportedly cancelled Friday's scheduled contract talks with 'immature' attacker Raheem Sterling, which means that Anfield's resident mercenary is one stop closer to the exit door. Result!

According to the BBC today:

"Liverpool have cancelled Friday's planned meeting with Raheem Sterling over comments attributed to the player's agent.

"Liverpool believe there would be no point in having a meeting when the player's representative is quoted as saying a new deal would not be signed regardless of the figure"


For me, this is the best transfer news of the year, and after the embarrassing outburst from his agent, there's surely no way back for Sterling, who is complicit in his Agent's total disrespect of Liverpool FC. A few points:

* Over the last year, I've repeatedly posted articles warning about Sterling's mercenary approach, but as usual, no one wanted to listen and/or acknowledge that he was trying to engineer a way out of Anfield.

* Cancelling contract talks is a show of strength from Liverpool, and the it's exactly the right way to proceed. To continue negotiations after being publicly dissed in such a manner would've been the ultimate display of weakness.

* Why hasn't Sterling publicly distanced himself from his Agent's diatribe? The fact that he's failed to do that simply adds insult to injury, and suggests that Sterling tacitly condones the comments. That may not be the case, but that's the way it appears.

* Brendan Rodgers deserves all the criticism coming his way for this sorry affair. His endless, sickening fawning over Sterling has inflated the youngster's ego to gargantuan levels, and given him a grossly inflated sense of self-worth.

* The biggest myth about this situation is that Sterling is somehow being 'misled' and 'badly advised', as if the youngster is some meek little lamb who has absolutely no input into anything that happens. That is total cobblers.

* Aidy Ward is Sterling's employee; Ward works for him (not the other way round), and as is usual in any Agent-Client relationship, absolutely everything is discussed, including strategy.

* Sterling could've reigned-in his agent at any point, but he has failed and/or refused to do that. As such, Liverpool must end all contract negotiations permanently and sell Sterling to the highest bidder (Currently Chelsea, who are reportedly willing to pay £50m).

* The only way Sterling can salvage the situation now is to sack his agent with immediate effect, and release a statement publicly apologising for the conduct, and for his own stupidity in failing to control his agent.



The club needs to draw a line in the sand; there should be no way back for Sterling after his Agent's outburst, and to reopen negotiations will just underline Liverpool's weakness, and ram home the unpalatable idea that the individual is bigger than the club.

Would Bill Shankly, Bob Paisley, John Smith, or Peter Robinson stand for this nonsense? No chance, and neither (IMO) would a dressing room containing the likes of Souness, Dalglish, Hansen, Barnes, McMahon, Aldo etc.

It's amazing, really. Sterling is paid obscenely well to kick a ball around for one of the world's most famous clubs; he's living the dream of millions of fans worldwide, most of whom would gladly trade places with him and play for free, and yet...

None of this good enough for him.

Well, Sterling is not good enough for Liverpool. He doesn't deserve to play for the club; he is a Londoner with zero affinity or respect for LFC, so let him go and rot on the bench at Chelsea, where he - and his agent - will fit right in.

Author: Jaimie K


44 comments:

  1. Totally agree. I don't even rate him that highly. I have always said that Ibe will be a far better player than him. He is a prospect but that's all he is, personally I wouldn't pay more than 12 Million for him

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  2. Jaimie, I must admit whilst I enjoy most of your articles on many occasions I wouldn't be in agreement, in this case your spot on...100%

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  3. He's definitely worth more than that. His poor behaviour now shouldn't cloud that fact.

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  4. Totally agree JK.

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  5. Nicolas Chamberlain7:49 pm, May 21, 2015

    Amen to that Jaimie.

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  6. I would go a further.


    I would tell any club interested that they will have to bid at least 50mil and I would tell Stirling that as of right now, until a club matches their valuation that he will never play another game for Liverpool again.

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  7. Agree. The only time he's impressed me is the last 4 months of last season, but he had the SAS pulling defenders all over the shop for him. The kid just does'nt have it, first touch, finishing , crossing. Its about saving face for the club now, not seem to be backing down & receiving decent money. He would'nt even rip a hole in our squad. If Chelsea , City offer 40m plus, I'd borrow Mike Ashleys helicopter to get him there asap. Could have a decent window if he goes

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  8. Jamie, though I have not always agreed with some of your views, I am still an avid reader at your site. In this particular instance, I am glad to say I share the same opinion. Should LFC not get a 50 million offer this summer, then LFC should simply throw him into the reserves and let him rot for the next season. We may not be as great as we once were, but we are still a big club who shouldnt let mercenaries like Ward and Sterling dictate. We want players who give their best in our shirt and are proud to play for us. Look at our legends like Fowler, Stevie G, Carra, Hyppia, Alonso, Rush, Dalglish and so many more. Even Suarez gave his best when he played for us. Cant say the same for Sterling though.

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  9. Put him back on the reserve team until he's sold at the right price, or out of contract, he is a good player, but not a loyal one....wish him a good luck for his future but not with rhe reds.....

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  10. Don't think we should sell him, we should make and example of him and let him rot in the reserves. Selling him makes it look like he has won this.

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  11. Agree 100% here. He clearly thinks he is better than he is. IMO Ibe is already looking a better player. We will be better off with the cash and he can become someone else's problem.

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  12. With respect, I think it's a bit of an exaggeration to say "no one wanted to listen and/or acknowledge that he was trying to engineer a way out of Anfield."


    I think the majority of the people (myself included) that you might be referring to merely believe that he's trying to better his own financial situation and in a capitalistic world, that's his right to try. But he's still restricted by his own contractual obligations, including the fact that if LFC so choose, they can simply make him play out the remainder of his contract.

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  13. And the idea here should be to build up his value as much as possible.

    Cutting off our noses to spite our face is no way to go about it.

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  14. How is he worth more than that,who made him who stood by him in his assault case and now he thinks lfc will crumble because of some spoilt 21 yr old i think he is not even worth 5 million but if Arsenal come in with 25 plus Walcot i,d do a deal.

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  15. Unfortunately, letting him rot in the reserves would mean risking running down his contract and losing him for free; rather than getting £30m-£50m this summer. But yeah, if he had say three or four years then I would let him rot in the reserves too.

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  16. I am not in the favor of destroying 19 year old's bright career by throwing him into the reserve. Sell him, get the money, move on.

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  17. Not correct, as he will be over 23 LFC would get compensation, maybe not as much as 40 mill but a fair market price, that's my understanding anyway.

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  18. Jaimie ,
    Some homework for you .
    Does Liverpool not have to give QPR a % of the fee if Sterling is sold ?

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  19. If we had the billions like man city or psg I will not sell him, I leave him on the bench for all the remaining of his contract. all of it, 2 years without a game of football. yes not even in the reserves league and he will train every day alone not with his teammates. and after 2 years of this type his price tag go so down even his fame. this what he needs. Stefan Y.N.W.A

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  20. The thing is I don't think this is about money. I just think the lad genuinely thinks he's much better than he is and deserves to be playing for one the best few clubs in the world. Deluded. He's not that great. Yes he's a decent prospect but he should have signed this contract ages ago, knuckled down for a couple more seasons and then swanned off wherever he wanted. As it is he's made several incredibly poor decisions and his idiot agent certainly hasn't helped. Take the 50 million and let him go. Annoyingly we have to pass on 20% of whatever fee we get to QPR so we should aim as high as possible.

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  21. Yes you are correct 25% if he goes abroad and 20% if he stays in England. So 50 million would be more 38-40 million depending on where he ends up.

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  22. yeah fair point. If he stays though, surly if you throw enough average 20m players at the fan, one will turn out ok

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  23. Even if he runs down his contract we'll still get a fee for him as he'll be under 24. And if 8 mil is supposedly the fee for Ings on a "free" then we should still get a pretty penny for Sterling should we let him rot.

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  24. What will annoy me more than anything is that if we are talking about this at the end of the transfer window, get him sold, getting it done early and move on quickly.

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  25. We bought Rickie Lambert for 4m last year.


    So by your valuation, Sterling is only worth 1m more than Lambert.


    Let's not get out of hand here.

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  26. It seems to be his strategy, your not on his committee are you?

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  27. It depends. Liverpool should under any circumstances sell him cheap, even if that means he is still at the club next season.

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  28. Ironically the only reason why Burnley might get so much is because we put a bid in.

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  29. Trade him for Cuadrado and Oscar.

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  30. Yeah. Were going to be signing some "amazing" players from Hull & Sunderland this summer

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  31. Tom is right

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  32. Whilst many do not want his career destroying (well I might but hey) this is his choice.


    I have no issue with him wanting to leave but there are ways to do this and he has basically taken a massive dump on our club and his agent is even worse.

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  33. It would be pretty much in the news if there were any clauses. I am not sure just guessing.

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  34. It is in the news

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  35. It probably goes back to the interview Pellegrini about a month ago where he was talking how much young English cost now and how he expects a player like Sterling to cost 50mil.

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  36. Didn't know, thanks.

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  37. Im sure that is 1 of the reasons FSG will not be in a hurry to sell him ?

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  38. I am so sorry to have to repeat myself but there is a transfer committee at Anfield. Do you not comprehend the fact that Rogers forms part of the committee, I do not know (but you do as for some unknown reason you are well informed?) he is likely to state the players he wants but it is not nailed on that he will get them. I don't believe he wanted Ballotelli but when thrust upon him he had to make do. Don't you recall BR saying that Balotelli will not be a Liverpool player? (True.... lol he failed miserably!) Anyway take it as read I do not agree with you! Bye Bye!

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  39. Suarez made the difference, BR has a philosophy that doesn't work and Stirling knows it. If he goes to Chelsea were he has a 100% better chance of winning something than staying at Liverpool can you blame him? Chris suttin said it, Stirling wants to go to a big club!!! WTF!! But realistically that's were we are. There maybe top managers becoming available, the first transfer Liverpool make is for one of them. BR is the joe Allen if managers!!!

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  40. Stevie and to an extent Mario and Glen have all proven themselves in the prem and are seasoned veterans hence the high wages. Sterling hasn't proved his worth yet, he's not bad but his passing, finishing, and decision making are all pretty poor. He's had 1 full season in the Prem and has been offered 100k a week I can tell you now Stevie wasn't on that when he broke into the team. Granted times have moved on since Stevie broke into our team but my point still stands.

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