Man City only option for Liverpool rebel if ambitions are true
Published:
It looks like Steven Gerrard won’t be the only big-name player heading through Liverpool’s exit door. But should Raheem Sterling be sold amid fresh news over his contract stand-off with the club, the youngster cannot expect the same warm send off.
News emerged on Sky’s Monday Night Football that the England winger will tell the Reds he does not intend to renew his contract with the club when talks over an extension resume this summer.
Aggrieved at the manner in which negotiations have been handled thus far, Sterling seems resigned to moving on from Anfield, where he feels bullied into signing a new deal.
That leaves Brendan Rodgers and the suits on Merseyside two years in which to cash in on their man. Despite initially insisting that the 20-year-old is not for sale, it is almost certain that Liverpool will sell Sterling should he not relax his view.
All along the Kingston, Jamaica native has claimed that it is his desire to win trophies, rather than any greed over money, which is his motivation for being such a prickly contract customer.
If that is the case, then Sterling only has one viable option on the horizon.
Manchester City, who are expected to initiate a playing-squad clear out this summer, would be the best move for the 14-cap international.
Indeed Ladbrokes rate the outgoing Premier League champions as favourites to be the player’s next permanent club at 11/8.
Considering the number of spaces that should open up in the City side, Sterling would stand the best chance of starting at the Etihad over other trophy-chasers like Chelsea and Manchester United, who sit at 7/2 and 12/1 respectively.
Arsenal are second favourites to be Sterling’s next club at 3/1, but have a settled front three and aren’t guaranteed to satisfy the Londoner’s supposed silverware craving.
Foreign climes are offered in the form of Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain, but it remains unclear whether Sterling holds the requisite international appeal.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
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