Should Raheem Sterling leave Liverpool?

Raheem Sterling without a doubt is a rising talent. After a stellar 2013/14 Season, he was on the radar of many big clubs and Liverpool were determined to protect their prized asset.

The 2014/15 Season? Big changes.

Liverpool had a season to forget as they underwent a squad overhaul following the departure of Luis Suarez. Sterling, in terms of goals and appearances and accolades, had his best season. Winning the Golden Boy award 2014, and was on the shortlist as the PFA Young player of the season.

Subject to such speculation and wanting to keep Sterling in Merseyside for the foreseeable future, Liverpool offered him a new contract. Currently, his contract expires during the summer of 2017. He earns £35,000 a week. Liverpool offered him an improved contract worth £100,000 a week. He rejected this improved contract. When many media outlets claimed he wanted a higher salary, Sterling denied these statements completely. He has given unauthorized interviews commenting on the contract situation. When former players gave their view on his situation urging him to stay to further his career, his agent just added more fuel to the fire, suggesting that his client would reject a £900,000 a week salary from Liverpool (fat chance that anyone would be daft enough to do so).

The damage has been done.

Sterling, through his support for his agent, his agent’s outburst and rejecting the Liverpool contract has made himself a nemesis in the eyes of the club’s endearing supporters. He was booed at the club’s end of season award ceremony and at a recent international match with England. With many European giants interested in the Liverpool starlet, he knows he can go. Will he get the playing time with a team such as Real Madrid? Not really, but he will definitely be making more money.

Liverpool can either hold onto him for 2 years and let him go for free (there might be the slightest of chance he would change his mind and even commit during that period) or they can sell him in the current transfer window with his stock high. Manchester City, Manchester United, Arsenal, Real Madrid, Barcelona have all been linked to him. In this situation, it is usually best if the player is sold.

With such competition for his singing, and Liverpool valuing him at £50M+, it’s fair to assume that he will not be sold cheap. Maybe if a foreign club offers money, they could get him relatively cheaper. Its even possible, in an era of mega transfer fees, the club could hope to get even more than what they hoped for.

What Liverpool need to worry about, if they do sell him, How to invest him. £50M is a lot of money. Enough to buy a well-established world class player. They can ill-afford to have a repeat of last season’s signings.

Liverpool have already started reshaping their squad. 4 Players (Gerrard, Jones, Johnson, Aspas) have left the club. James Milner, Danny Inngs (tribunal fee), Ádám Bogdán have been signed. Ogiri returns from his loan to Lille.

So, the Keepers and Midfield Section are possibly complete (although, certain midfielders can still be sold off to remove deadweight). What Liverpool need more than anything is one more striker and one world class centre back. The fullbacks, they will improve no doubt, but it’s the weakness in the centre and a lack of goals that really cost the squad.

The money needs to be invested in getting two quality players in. Liverpool are linked to Charlton Athletics’ Joe Gomez (he is set to join the club). At 18, for a small fee, it’s a risk worth taking, but it might be a move that would pay off in the long run.

At the moment in the market, there are not many center backs of proven quality, barring Hummels, although he isn’t the same centre back that he was. Liverpool should consider opting for Marc Batra who is now surplus to the Catalans. He is good with the ball at his feet, has an arial presence and is young, allowing him to be an option for the 6-7 years at the very least. £12M region would be enough to tempt him, although the club faces competition from Spurs (at least, both clubs are playing the same competitions next season so it could be down to playing time or money).

£38M left? That is more than enough to go out and buy a top quality striker! Liverpool’s frontline was in shambles all season. 13 goals among its 4 forwards in all competition. This area needs a clean-up with Lambert and Borini set to leave. Liverpool do naught to get rid of Balotelli but very few clubs can afford him. However, the strikers who desire Champions League football cannot be lured. Liverpool would really need to lower their expectations a bit. Someone such as Baas Dost of Wolfsburg, or Inter Milan’s Mauro Icardi. He would be a bit pricier than Dost, but has had a more consistent and stellar season for Inter Milan. With the Milanese outfit not in Europe next season, it could be possible to lure him to Anfield, although Inter Milan would not let their striker leave without a fight.

So, Liverpool should sell sterling for a good sum as his intentions are clear enough. What they should do, is to invest it in proven quality and not play the money ball. If they are not going to do that? They might as well keep him.