Former Liverpool star Didi Hamann has urged people to lay off Reds attacker Raheem Sterling, who is yet to sign a contract extension with the club.
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The England international has little more than two years remaining on his contract at Anfield, and his refusal to put pen to paper on a fresh deal has sparked anxiety among supporters that he could quit the club at the end of the season.
Hamann, who lifted the European Cup with Liverpool a decade ago, feels the issue has been overblown, and labelled some of the press coverage around Sterling’s contract wrangle as “pathetic” during a Twitter rant.
Liverpool face a battle against the odds to achieve qualification for next season’s Champions League after slipping off the pace in the race for a top-four finish, following damaging defeats to Manchester United and Arsenal respectively.
If they do fail to earn participation in Europe’s biggest club competition, Liverpool could be in for a battle to keep hold of 20-year-old Sterling when the summer transfer window opens.