Liverpool have rejected a second bid from Manchester City for Raheem Sterling in a matter of days. As reported here by the Guardian, the Citizens made an improved £40 million bid for the winger, but the Reds have said no. This is after a first bid of £30 million was rejected last week.
Liverpool value Sterling at £50 million, a fee that would make him one of the costliest transfer in Premier League history. The 20 year-old has a great future ahead of him with both club and country, and the Reds are adamant to try and keep him at Anfield next season.
Sterling has refused to sign a new £100,000-per-week contract on Merseyside and looks like he desperately wants to leave. His agent Aidy Ward stated that he would not even sign a new contract for “£900,000-a-week”. He wants to play at a top club and compete for trophies, as well as playing in the Champions League. But Liverpool’s transfer fee demands may be a big hurdle in that move going through, and it remains to be seen if interested parties are willing to shell out such a huge amount.
The Englishman was at the forefront of the side that finished runners-up in the 2013/14 campaign, along with Daniel Sturridge and Luis Suarez. Even though he was just a teenager, Brendan Rodgers gave him a central role in the side and Sterling justified this by putting in some stunning performance. Last season though, he went off the boil a bit, scoring just 7 times in the league as Liverpool finished in 6th place. Despite this, the club obviously holds him in the highest regard and are looking at every possible way to prevent an exit.
Several Liverpool legends have spoken on this issue, with the likes of Robbie Fowler, Steven Gerrard, John Aldridge, Steve McManaman and Roy Houghton all stating that the youngster must stay on at the club for further development. Along with Man City, Real Madrid were also said to be interested in signing Sterling, but despite the inflated wages, he would have no guarantee of playing time at either of these clubs.
The ball is now City’s court though, as they ponder what looks like being a decisive £50 bid. If they do go forward with it, it will be the highest they have ever paid for a player in their history. Manuel Pellegrini’s men were dethroned at the top of the table by Chelsea last season, and will need to make some big changes to be in the thick of the title race next year.
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