Raheem Sterling finally completed his long-awaited move from Liverpool to Manchester City on Tuesday.
READ MORE:
Liverpool FC news.
DONE DEAL: Manchester City complete signing of Liverpool’s Raheem Sterling
Liverpool set to announce sixth summer signing with experienced assistant manager joining Reds
The England international has joined the Citizens on a five-year deal [mcfc.co.uk], and according to BBC Sport, moves to the Etihad Stadium on a £49 million deal.
The forward is unlikely to be the last star to leave Anfield this summer, as Brendan Rodgers looks to mould a squad capable of challenging for the Premier League title.
In this feature, we profile five players who may be set to follow Sterling out of the door.
Rickie Lambert
It just hasn’t worked out for Rickie Lambert back on Merseyside has it?
The fairytale return has only yielded two Premier League goals and two assists, and has been heavily linked with a move to West Bromwich Albion [Liverpool Echo].
While some would be sad to see the 33-year-old leave after a muted campaign, Rodgers may see the veteran as dead wood that has no further part in his plans.
Jose Enrique
Even though Liverpool weren’t wholly impressive in defence last season, Brendan Rodgers still doesn’t seem to trust Spanish left-back Jose Enrique for a first-team berth.
The 29-year-old managed only two Premier League starts last term, and while there has been no tangible interest in his services, the defender has been left out of the Reds’ preseason tour [The Guardian].
He surely has no future at Anfield.
Mario Balotelli
Due to his performances in the past, and the raw potential Balotelli appears to possess, there will always be clubs linked to and potentially interested in the striker.
These qualities tempted Rodgers to take a punt on the forward last term, but 16 league outings and only one goal has made him one of the Northern Irish coach’s most notable transfer flops.
The forward has been linked with a move to Newcastle United [Daily Star], while Fiorentina are understood to be keen on the forward [Daily Mail].
Lazar Markovic
Rogers paid an eye-watering £20 million to bring Serbian forward Lazar Markovic to Anfield, but the forward has wholly struggled to repay the coach’s faith.
There have been moments of quality, but Markovic has lacked the consistency and the intensity required to thrive at an elite EPL side.
He has been linked to the exit door, with Benfica understood to be considering a move to bring the forward back to the Stadium of Light [talkSPORT].
Fabio Borini
It just hasn’t worked out for Fabio Borini at Anfield has it, despite the Italy international being nurtured by Rodgers during his time at Swansea City and Chelsea.
The forward impressed on loan at Sunderland during the 2013-14 season, but wasn’t able to recreate that encouraging form last term—making only three league starts and scoring only one goal all season.
Bologna are understood to be keen on ending Borini’s unhappy stay on Merseyside [Sky Sports].