Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has claimed that Raheem Sterling won’t be leaving the club even if he doesn’t sign a new deal, reports the Daily Star.
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The England international has already turned down a £100,000 a week deal according to the Star, and has refused to continue negotiations until the end of the season. Sterling has two years left on his contract, and owners Fenway Sports Group are willing to make the 20 year-old play out the entirety even if a new deal isn’t signed.
Arsenal, Manchester City, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, and Real Madrid are all reportedly interested in the youngster, and the Reds’ likely lack of Champions League football next season may be a problem for the Merseyside club. They are currently seven points behind fourth placed Manchester United with only four games left in the campaign.
“Raheem won’t be going anywhere this summer, even if there’s not a deal agreed,” Rodgers is quoted as saying by the Star.
“We’ve made that clear from the beginning and the owners are very much supportive of that. We’re still pretty relaxed on it. It’s one where the club will meet up again with Raheem’s representatives.
“We’ve had a couple of good meetings. He came to the house and had a good chat on a personal level as well. It’s not just about the football side, it’s also about his welfare because he’s still young and he’s been through a lot in the last couple of years.”
If Rodgers backs this claim up, it would mean the Anfield missing out on a massive transfer fee which could fund a squad rebuild. However, if he can prove to Sterling that he can make Liverpool competitive again next season, he may hope he can convince the player to stay at Anfield.