Liverpool Signs Raheem Sterling to New 5-Year Deal; Close on Sturridge, Ince

Sky Sports is reporting that Liverpool and teenage striker Raheem Sterling have agreed to a five-year extension of his current deal with the club, which will see the talented youngster remain at Anfield through the 2017 season.

UPDATE: Thursday, December 20 at 10:21 a.m. ET

The Times' Tony Barrett has the latest on Sterling:

"

Rodgers confirms that Raheem Sterling is set to sign his new contract in the next 24 hours.

— Tony Barrett (@TonyBarretTimes) December 20, 2012"

---End of Update---

Sterling was signed from Queen’s Park Rangers in 2010 and was reportedly on wages in the area of £2,000 per week.  BBC Sport is now projecting that his salary could rise to £30,000 per week with the new deal.

The Jamaican-born youngster got his first senior team cap a month ago when he was called up by Roy Hodgson for England’s friendly match against Sweden, which the host Swedes won 4-2.

The second youngest player ever to debut and second youngest to score for Liverpool, Sterling's England call-up was just another affirmation of the strides the Liverpool youngster has made since becoming a first team regular under Brendan Rodgers.   

While his numbers have been modest (just one Premier League goals in 16 games this season), Sterling’s impact is undeniable as he has invigorated Liverpool’s wing play and given opposing defenses cause for worry where before there was none.

His play had reportedly drawn the interests of other Premier League clubs including Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea, and some reports had indicated that the two sides were far apart on contract negotiations prior to today’s signing.  BBC Sports report that the current deal is to the satisfaction of all parties, however.

BBC Sport is also reporting that Liverpool are also close to completing deals for Chelsea’s Daniel Sturridge and Blackpool’s Tom Ince.

Sturridge is thought to be out of favor at Chelsea, having not featured for the club since Roberto DiMatteo’s last day at the helm in a 2-1 defeat to West Brom a month ago.  The deal is projected to be completed early in the January transfer window, and will cost the Reds a reported £12m.

Ince left Anfield just 18 months ago, but his development at Blackpool has been rapid enough to merit another look by the Anfield hierarchy. 

This deal is also expected to be finalized early in January, at a cost of £6m, but dropping to £4m due to a sell on clause inserted into the original transfer from Liverpool to Blackpool.

Follow @aikibro