With Raheem Sterling seemingly on the verge of leaving Liverpool, rumours are swirling about an alleged clause in his contract, which stipulates that Queens Park Rangers are entitled to 20% of The Mercenary's transfer fee. Is this true?
Unfortunately, it is true, and former QPR Chairman Gianni Paladini confirmed this in June 2014.
When asked for details about Sterling's £500k transfer to Liverpool, he told Get West Sport:
"Rangers will get 20% [from] the sell-on fee, not that QPR probably need it right now.
"The new owners have more money than ever existed in my time. Still, a £40M sale nets them £8M—not bad for a 15-year-old, eh? But I doubt Liverpool will ever sell him."
Paladini was in charge at QPR when Liverpool signed Sterling, so he'll obviously know the finer details of the agreement.
None of the newspapers running the story have referenced this quote from Paladini, which is strange considering it's the original source of the rumour.
Paladini mentioned nothing about a 25% sell-on clause if Sterling signs for an overseas club, so at this point, there's no evidence to suggest that is true.
So, there you have it. If Liverpool sell Sterling for £50m, the club will lose £10m of that fee to QPR.
It's just another example of Liverpool's perennial penchant for being fleeced on transfers.
A 20% sell-on clause is ridiculous, and it's hard to believe that someone at LFC actually sanctioned that.
I'd like to blame it on Ian Ayre, as it sounds like just the type of negligent clause he'd negotiate.
Alas, Ayre had nothing to do with transfers back in 2010. Based on the club's statements at the time, it seems like the blame lies with former Managing Director Christian Purslow, and ex-Academy Chief Frank McParland.
Author: Jaimie K
Unfortunately, it is true, and former QPR Chairman Gianni Paladini confirmed this in June 2014.
When asked for details about Sterling's £500k transfer to Liverpool, he told Get West Sport:
"Rangers will get 20% [from] the sell-on fee, not that QPR probably need it right now.
"The new owners have more money than ever existed in my time. Still, a £40M sale nets them £8M—not bad for a 15-year-old, eh? But I doubt Liverpool will ever sell him."
Paladini was in charge at QPR when Liverpool signed Sterling, so he'll obviously know the finer details of the agreement.
None of the newspapers running the story have referenced this quote from Paladini, which is strange considering it's the original source of the rumour.
Paladini mentioned nothing about a 25% sell-on clause if Sterling signs for an overseas club, so at this point, there's no evidence to suggest that is true.
So, there you have it. If Liverpool sell Sterling for £50m, the club will lose £10m of that fee to QPR.
It's just another example of Liverpool's perennial penchant for being fleeced on transfers.
A 20% sell-on clause is ridiculous, and it's hard to believe that someone at LFC actually sanctioned that.
I'd like to blame it on Ian Ayre, as it sounds like just the type of negligent clause he'd negotiate.
Alas, Ayre had nothing to do with transfers back in 2010. Based on the club's statements at the time, it seems like the blame lies with former Managing Director Christian Purslow, and ex-Academy Chief Frank McParland.
Author: Jaimie K
The club also needs to draw a line in accepting mediocrity. From Torres to Suarez to Lambert & Borini to Ings is depressing.
ReplyDeleteI'm not even against selling but I'm terrified at who Rodgers will target with that money.
I can see us selling Sterling for say 35M, trying to get Lacazatte for 20M, being laughed off, dilly-dallying all summer, than rushing and buying Berahino for 30M.
Also please don't get me wrong I also don't believe any of the players you mentioned should be paid what they are as none of them are worth what they get but it still doesn't mean Sterling should get more for being in the same category. He's got potential but then so does Walcott and look how's that's panned out.
ReplyDeleteLet him rot in the reserves, even if it costs us money in the long run. Whatever we do we can't allow this little twerp and his gobsht agent to walk all over us.
ReplyDeleteFlogg him off for the highest price. You cannot keep him tied to a contract if he wants to leave
ReplyDeleteWelcome to the world of the selling club.......QPR to LFC.....LFC to bigger club......just what is all the fuss about the kid has had one good season and we will bank 40 mill. that's good business in my books
ReplyDeletePerhaps we could negotiate a sell on clause
ReplyDeleteHa ha ha sterling has really got under your skin jk get a grip brother he's a non entity in a world of non entities
ReplyDeleteI realize Sterling has handled this badly his agent has to be the biggest tool out but if the club gets 40 to 50 mill then we should laugh all the way to the bank.
ReplyDeleteI dont believe he has what it takes to be a superstar i hope he is sold before everyone else wakes up.
Give over. Sterling has not got 'under my skin'. You shouldn't confuse the nature of my posts with my actual demeanour in real life. People should know by now that I don't get emotionally involved in football issues.
ReplyDeleteWe should sell and get the best price we can, after watching him play this season I am amazed that so many clubs are interested. The 20% fee that QPR get maybe this was the only way they were prepared to let such a prospect go.
ReplyDeleteZulu that`s what I would do with the him. I wonder what his real motive for leaving is, its probably a London thing called Arsenal or Chelsea. if I was capable id play for LFC with one leg and for nowt.
ReplyDeleteYou can come in for Johnson then
ReplyDeleteNow that`s a hard act to follow
ReplyDeleteThank you for writing actual facts about the game. Most other sources don't even quote the guy who the story came from! It's a shame they all make shit up when there's a good fact based story right there
ReplyDeleteI have a feeling that Lallana and Coutinho will carry our club next season and take us to CL. Sterling can go take a hike.
ReplyDeleteApparently we have if he goes to Chelsea and they sell on we get half a dozen tickets to the flower show
ReplyDeleteIts the way his agent is going about it pal. I hate the fact these idiots agents have so much power in football. Also I'll never agree that City, Chelsea or Arsenal are bigger clubs than us, yes at the moment they are more successful but in my eyes that doesn't make them bigger clubs.
ReplyDeleteSterling aside I cant wait for a marquee signing this summer
ReplyDeleteI'm speaking figuratively to a southern boy ,Chelsea may well seem a bigger club
ReplyDeleteAnd free 'balloons'
ReplyDeleteFlannagan has only signed one-year extension. Not sure what is wrong with the club.
ReplyDeleteHope your right pal, I also think Ibe will play a big part next season. We HAVE to bring in a decent striker though to have any chance of competing.
ReplyDeleteWe have enough one legged players thank you very much
ReplyDeleteMy question is why? Rodgers has raised Sterling from a pup. What is it about the club, the management and the players that has convinced Sterling at such a tender age that this club is going nowhere? It's clearly not all about money considering the money he's already missed out on not signing a £100k pw contract already. That's missing out on £65k pw since they first offered it to him. Plus he's saying he'll never sign anyway. What is so bad about the club and it's future that a kid from the inside is repelled by it no matter what they offer? What's going on?
ReplyDeleteWe are getting Kerry Dixon as make weight
ReplyDeleteST, RB, LB, DM ...these four players should come in ..no doubt. I think Ibe is not yet a finished article and we don't want Sterling v1.1. Should use Ibe like a youngster and wisely, not overplay like Sterling.
ReplyDeleteMaybe thinking he may not recover from this last injury so just buying time
ReplyDeleteMaybe we're not sure if he'll come back the same player after such a serious injury?
ReplyDeletehmm...feel for Flano...loyalty (from players and clubs) is dead in football. (Oh Gerrard!)
ReplyDeleteExpress is reporting that Arsenal agreed deal to sign Vidal
ReplyDeleteYep agreed, need a goalkeeper too if Jones is leaving.
ReplyDeleteGood thing about it is though if he leaves on a free we'll get a fee from a tribunal, should be at least 15-20 million, because we trained him.
ReplyDeleteThe reality is football has moved on ..….Liverpool can either embrace the new 24 hour media and agent world of football and live or try and cling to the oldbootroom clean my booted kid or I'll kick you up the are and die
ReplyDeleteRight.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Jamie, Sterling should be sold in the summer. The club should be actively looking for replacements now. There have been some ridiculous valuations being bandied around, but if Man City are willing to pay north of £40M we should accept that. It is an opportunity for LFC as well in my eyes. When Sterling has gone, Brendan Rodgers should be reminding all the current players that they are not good enough to win anything in the eyes of one of their former compatriots. There is nothing more motivational than being told you are not good enough by someone that you used to share a dressing room with and you thought that you had their respect. The players should be reminded of that next season before every training session and before every game. It's probably right and proper that LFC do not select Sterling for the last game against Stoke as any injury sustained by him could hamper moving him on in the summer and lets not forget that Stoke like a physical game. LFC as a club should show Sterling the level of respect that deserves which is very little. I for one would like to wish him well in his career, I hope he gets really big contract at the club that we sell him to, but I also hope that as a fan he wins no trophies wherever he moves on to. I remember a certain Michael Owen stating the same thing back in 2004. Yes he won a title with Man Utd, but was he really a key player in that squad? Deep down inside him somewhere he looks at that medal and despite it having his name on it, his contribution was miniscule and that must wrankle a little with him to some degree as he was a major player for England at the turn of the century. Might be that history may repeat itself. Anyway, on a brighter note, Jordon Ibe signed today and I've always thought that he would become more potent than Sterling. Let's hope that comes to pass.
ReplyDeleteNot sure how much loyalty is required to sit in the stands injured
ReplyDeleteLiverpool deserve to feel the pinch from the Sterling transfer as they way they handled the whole narrative has been shambolic.
ReplyDeleteThat will be sasoon to cut sterlings hair
ReplyDeleteCouldent agree more Jamie spot on mate. If he is even in the squad against Stoke I will be fuming and will lose all respect for Rodgers.
ReplyDeleteAre you talking about Gerrard?
ReplyDeleteWell let's hope Bredan has this kind of motivation in him cuz I seriously doubt it.
ReplyDeleteNo Nietzsche
ReplyDeleteWe need one if he is staying
ReplyDeleteNo, i believe as discussed above cards are not all in the players hands this time, if you take the emotion out of it if a bid comes in early would you accept it even if under valued or for a few million more? Or wait but risk not having funds and time to reinvest? I would take the early option as the pressure and risk is not worth it and next year the club must hit the ground running not making excuses about new players late in window etc etc. the first 10 games will make or break it
ReplyDeleteYou paid £500k for him...what's the problem? It's still a £30m + profit for someone who runs like he is a puppet on a string
ReplyDelete£8m.. there goes our summer spending spree!
ReplyDeleteSterling is a top notch prat! How he thinks he's worth more than the 90k/wk contract he was offered is beyond me! Hope the door hits him on his way out because no other top tier club in their right minds will offer him a starting role. LFC would be wise to isolate him from the first team until we can sell him to whoever is daft enough to give hime the 150k/wk he thinks he's worth.
ReplyDeleteWe would have to make a couple of good signings for that to happen.
ReplyDeleteSterling thinks he is the new Messi and i reckon his agent is massaging his rather large ego and small mind for self gain.
ReplyDeleteI must admit his runnng style reminds me of Steve Peplow
ReplyDeleteYes, football has moved on, but that doesn't mean fans should tolerate disloyalty, greed, and mercenary tactics. That may be the current reality, but fans should still rail against it.
ReplyDeleteHi jaimie lad its del from sneyd park fc , totally agree with your points over sterling as def no way back for him his so called agent has even now had a pop at carra , i hope we now just accept 50mil for him and invest it wisely and move on , like king kenny said when he came back as manager in 2011 when torres left affer backing the club into s corner " no one or no player is bigger than liverpool football club , the club moves on " good news on ibe and flannagan new deals
ReplyDeletePrety decent article this time. One thing is certain -any money that comes in for Serling will be wasted because no decent player wants to play for Rogers. The Real Madrid midfielder, for example, is absolute tripe and so is Llorente - two players LFC have been linked heavily with.
ReplyDeleteWell, if Flanno signs a 5 year deal and sits in the infirmary for four of them, we'll look mighty silly won't we?
ReplyDeleteIf Sterling signs a 5 year deal and we couldn't even finish in the top 4 for most of that period, he will look silly for rejecting other big clubs too. Just saying.
ReplyDeleteI want to see him in the reserves for one season then flog the mercenary to the highest bidder in the summer of 2016.
ReplyDeleteCuadrado IS total rubbish.....rubbish.
ReplyDeleteI honestly don't think we will sell him this summer
ReplyDeleteOr worse, using the money to buy Charlie Austen for £20-30m
ReplyDeletegreat article jamie
ReplyDeleteThe biggest culprit is BR, clearly this kinda situation rarely happen to top club like Liverpool or top manager unless players are not playing, BR seems to turn Liverpool into becoming like a smaller club with his mediocre transfers.
ReplyDeletesomehow I have a feeling Ibe and Ojo gonna turn out like him in future if the club still having BR as manager.
ReplyDeleteI agree Dan, I have been saying this for a couple of seasons now and people on here have only ridiculed me on my comments, I would not put the blame purely on BR's shoulders for all the hype over how good Sterling is supposed to be I also blame the media, and a lot of supporters for being sheep and believing all they read instead of making there own minds up on him.
ReplyDeleteNow that people have stopped blowing smoke up his arse he is going to start crying like he does when he looses the ball and I think that his AGENT will drop him also when he is sold to try and keep face
ReplyDeleteSounds a bit unethical to me mate.
ReplyDeleteBesides, we don't need to do it because he's clearly worth £100-200m.
I'd be very happy with that.
ReplyDeleteHe needs to bulk up to play in the Prem, but he's a good player. Would do well for us at wing-back too.
ReplyDeleteNot going to happen, but just saying.
...but we're selling him. Why would we sell him on the cheap because he's a 'bad egg'.
ReplyDeleteHope not, They should have learnt there lesson with Sterling and keep there feet on the ground, Encourage them yes but don't put them on a pedestal.
ReplyDeleteI would like the following things to happen:
ReplyDelete1.. Sterling to be relegated to the subs bench for the Stoke game, and brought on near the end of the game - say 91st minute.. and then allow the whole crowd to boo vociferously
2. Not to sell Sterling in the summer, and next season play him in the U21s.
3. Then next summer, sell the back-stabbing merc.
And BR used to be applauded for his man-management skills !!
ReplyDelete100% agree.
ReplyDeleteHey - my thoughts exactly..
ReplyDeleteSomeone pointed out, that we should not think about the £35k per week we are losing out by paying this merc, but think about the £65k per week we are saving by not agreeing to the £100k per week contract offer.
And then once the year in the U21 is over, ask Sterling what he thinks of his agent!
He too has now realised that with BR at the helm LFC will never win anything, and he wants out.
ReplyDeleteHowever, and a big however, BR being a bad manager does not excuse Sterling of being a horrible little sh*t.
This has a lot to do how much BR has filled him with hot air... but still not excusable.
ReplyDelete5o million ??? chelsea can pay or not... or we can changes with hazard or costa?? maybe we have a more money..
ReplyDeleteI still think calling him a mercenary is odd. Whilst I'm keen to offload him because he doesnt want to be at the club, he's clearly not mercenary in the sense that he's just going for the paycheck. The fact that it doesnt matter what amount LFC offer him kind of says it ISNT about the money, it's about progress, trophies etc. Can't blame the kid, but it's all been handled wrong. Oh well, we move on with 40-50m extra in the bank, sign me up a quick Milner, Kono and Ayew on frees, Ings and Pedro on the cheap, should have a decent amount after sales of Sterling and the rest to spend on a backup keeper like Ryan, a fullback & centrehalf, decent defensive mid and a top quality striker.
ReplyDeleteThere you go, simple as that!
PS: I watched a doco on Southampton filmed fairly recently, mostly talking about their academy and such, they have got an amazing setup over there, you can definitely see what the owners are TRYING to go for by targeting youth, our scouts just arent that good apparently.
I'd rather the money. Hazard would be way more expensive and Costa is a dog that should be put down. He is Mourinho, if Mourinho was a footballer and not just a petulant child with a footballing brain.
ReplyDeleteOR I'd take Matic and Azpilicueta, they would address two problem areas in our squad, Matic at DM and Azpi at either fullback position, so three spots really.
Couldnt happen, but it's always good to dream.
Feck it, just give us the money.
OK so the 'interested' club says no. We let him rot on the bench. Moral Victory for us! Then he leaves at the end of next season on a free, robbing us of the possible £40m bid that would have sold him then and there.
ReplyDeleteWoohoo! Moral Victories are so much better than actual ones!!!
Wouldnt hurt if those around him put a pin in his head his agent for 1 who is just full of sh#t we all know he will get as many pay days as possible until Sterling gets real.
ReplyDeleteEdit: I realise we still get a fee, but due to his age it wouldnt be more than 10-15m. Missing out on alot of moolah that we could really use in this window.
ReplyDeleteI would hate to see him being sold to our league competitors, he can easily outrun all our defenders, would be hard playing against him. Good thing he can't pass or score goals.
ReplyDeleteNo matter how we finish, we will always have the option to sell Raheem, and he knows it. He could sign a 20 year contract today and be off to City tomorrow. We don't have that security with Flanno. If he doesn't come back from his injury, we're screwed with his contract until it runs out.
ReplyDeleteOf course, I'm not saying we shouldn't show loyalty to our players, but the good of the club has to be priority. It's being touted that Flanno's contract is only 12 months, but it's more than likely that there's a built in extension for a multi-year contract based on apps over the next season. If his comeback is successful, he can extend long term. If not, he can have the option to leave so he's not stalling on the bench.
While we end up with risk and lower valuation by keeping him in the reserves for one more year. Stirling is losing at least 65K (number from the improved contract) if not more per week. thats more than 3M.
ReplyDeleteIf his Agent carries on like this no club will ever want to do any business with him. not really keen on Sterling anyway but he should get rid of this prat of an agent for his own sake
ReplyDeleteTotally agree
ReplyDeleteI think he will always have a problem tryouts big to shoot with any power and score
Sterling is a keepers dream as he will always shoot with the power of a girl
Right! Thanks.
ReplyDeleteBrenda Rogers fawning? Never seen that, he only ever talks about "the group" and not an individual. But I guess it gives you a chance to have a pop at the manager doesn't it Jamie!!!
ReplyDeleteOh and I like the "I told you so" bit! Classy that. But then you have told the readers so many things in the past that have not come true (just like The Metro) it's difficult to know what to believe.
AGREED 100% I wonder what is all the fuss about, What exactly has Liverpool achieved with Raheem sterling in this squad? What has Sterling himself achieved in his short career? I say keep him but bench him indefinitely!!!
ReplyDeleteMilner
ReplyDeleteHad we known sooner he could have been nick named Pounds as in Pounds Sterling.
ReplyDeleteI don't rate him very highly, but I think JK is being overly harsh to Sterling. I think it's clear that he is ill advised, and he's still young, and off the field he may be easily influenced. Theirry Henry was 20+ and he said he had been badly advised, so i can't see why the same thing can't apply to Sterling.
ReplyDeleteIn which Universe is £ worth 50m ? oops i forgot hes english
ReplyDeleteWait, because Sterling signed a new contract with us a few years ago does that mean the sell on fee still applies or not?
ReplyDeleteSterling can go... any profit we get off him will be great! Bags of talent, now watch him never fulfill his potential at the youth eaters of the world.
ReplyDeletehe came from qpr in 2010, whats loyalty got to do with the decision made? and why waste a player u intend to let walk free, we dnt have much better , ket him play en earn the 35k he wil b receivin for the next 2years lol
ReplyDeletedoes it matter which league the buying club is in?
ReplyDeleteAs for Sterling's sense of.self.worth and ego etc I tend to go with Carra who has actually worked with the lad and knows better than us. But for sure the one thing we can all agree on is his agent is a massive tool who has denied those quotes in question. Like Jaime I like the club's approach and cancelling the talks. Be.it Sterling or his agent or both, the club need to show who is boss.
ReplyDeleteSad state of affairs with this situation. I'm not happy to see him go as LFC had a great asset in Sterling. He is by far not the finished article and has a lot to learn but he will and get better. In saying this if LFC are smart and get as much as they can for him and then invest it wisely with a great replacement then Sterlings potential will not be missed. For me it make BRs excuse for not signing Depay rather silly now as he said he was never interested in him as he had wingers at the club already i.e Sterling, he couldn't possibly be talking about Markovic could he?
ReplyDeleteJamie despite the nature of the relationship, ward has been Sterling's agent and advisor since he was a child. This is a man he trusts and respects. Obviously he is believing the hype but to say it is a myth when people who have actually had contact with both people suggest otherwise is nonsense. I understand it's just your belief but one ignoring what people far more in the know than you are saying.
ReplyDeleteyou put it perfectly, he's a knpb. he has no striking skills. liverpool please sell him.
ReplyDeleteYou aren't the biggest club in the world guys. Sometimes player want to move to bigger clubs. You didn't slag him off for joining so why would you slag him off for leaving. As much as you've tried to make out its about money it's clearly not hence your attempt to throw money at him failing,
ReplyDeleteI'm mixed. While that seems the right thing to do I want us to make and example.
ReplyDeleteIt's nonsense. Came from the mail or the metro. Purely made up.
ReplyDeleteThe guy became a dad at 16, it's not like he's ever shown himself to be terribly smart. As we've seen this year, he's not terribly good either. The way I see it, if we can seriously get a club to pay more than 20 million for him it will be the biggest transfer rip off since Carrol to Liverpool. Or Balotelli to Liverpool.
ReplyDeleteSpot on! Totally agree, couldn't have said it better myself. I just hope the club play hardball now and only let him leave on their terms and when they say so.
ReplyDeleteWHY DO YOU ALWAYS PUT MISLEADING HEADLINES?
ReplyDeleteI fully agree. The clause is there and to be honest I think it's quite common for it to be 20%. The thing that worries me most is that the 40 million may go to the transfer committee to spend.
ReplyDeleteJust sell him. As his agent says there is no lack of teams wanting him, just sell him to Hull city or Newcastle. If not he must rot in the reserves. Without fail, he must not play vs Stoke this weekend
ReplyDeleteGood point about the "misled, badly advised, young and exploited" angle. Ibe and Flanagan are equally young and seem to have more idea about how to conduct themselves. Professionalism and being able to look yourself in the mirror and like what you see, should be higher up Sterling priority list.
ReplyDeleteTakk you! Some even feel sorry for Sterling. No way, i will never feel sorry for a 20 year old saying no to 100 k a week. He is not that good, losing the ball far to often and has no finishing skills what so ever. Some of his misses this season has been unbeliveble. Of course he has talent, but he is not worth all the trouble.
ReplyDeleteI will be extremely dissapointed if Sterling plays for LFC again... let alone next season. At the end of the day a person who can disrespect the club so blatantly should not represent the club at all. The turn of events have been appalling and there is no turning back to considering him as an LFC player. Playing him again will be an insult to any football club....
ReplyDeleteIt has been reported in the news that Liverpool would have to pay QPR 20% of any transfer fee.
ReplyDeleteSterling has no class (off the pitch). Plain and simple. He claims the club haven't backed him, yet when Woy hung him out to dry for being tired BR stood up for him, plus he got sent on holiday back to Jamaica mid-season when he was tried again.
ReplyDeleteWait until you have the stamina to play a full season and hit double-figures (goals or assists) before you start demanding a 6 figure a week salary son!
Or Chelsea want to swap Oscar and AN-other..... ?
ReplyDeletePersonally i'd sell him to Munich. That way he'd have the inconvenience of learning 2 new languages - German and English...........
Just to confirm you think you're being "fleeced"???? You bought him for £500k when he was already widely regarded as being exceptionally talented as well as a youth England international. As a big club you forget about how many other smaller clubs you "fleece" every season taking their youngsters for a pitiful compensation fee.
ReplyDeleteAgreed.
ReplyDeleteFor my sins as a QPR supporter I well remember the struggle we had to keep him at the club, his agent was driving it hard, at the time we offered as much as we could, Liverpool were desperate to get him and it was alledged that to clinch thd deal his mother was offered a house in Liverpool together with a car, when you consider the place he came from this was Eldorardo. So be prepared for the next move, onwards and upwards.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.cityam.com/216346/could-liverpool-legally-let-raheem-sterling-rot-reserves-response-contract-dispute? This is about whether we actually CAN legally let him rot in the reserves
ReplyDeleteHere's a thought-
ReplyDeleteSterling would probably fetch around £40m. Less 20% =£32m
Less 10m saved on wages from his offer rejection till end of his contract =£22m. Less 15m compensation when he does go at the end of his contract since we had him at 15-16.
We could be talking about a net loss of just 7m, plus we would not be strengthening a rival side
Sterling NEEDS TO PLAY to get into next year's European Championship England side, and to maintain his value and fitness
FSG are probably doing the math and thinking we only need to get £7m worth of value out of him AND put his risible agent in his place at the same time as enhancing our reputation
I don't think they'll sell him.....
"It's just another example of Liverpool's perennial penchant for being fleeced on transfers". Horrible when the shoe is on the other foot hey?
ReplyDelete