Liverpool Transfer News: Raheem Sterling Reportedly Stalls on New Contract

Liverpool and winger Raheem Sterling are "nowhere near any agreement on a new contract," per Henry Winter of The Telegraph.

That's bad news for manager Brendan Rodgers, who must be imploring the heavens for a slice of good luck. Fresh from seeing his team dumped out of the UEFA Champions League, Rodgers could be about to lose one of his brightest young stars.

Sterling is ready to turn down a lucrative new deal with the Anfield club. Mail Online writer Sami Mokbel provided details:

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The Reds have made an informal offer of a five year deal worth up to £70,000 to Sterling. But a deal is yet to be agreed as Sterling weighs up his future.

The England international is one of the premier prospects in world football, with Europe's superpowers—Real Madrid among them—watching developments over his contract situation closely.

Sterling is understandably keen to continue playing in the Champions League. Liverpool, as it stands, look way off qualifying for next season's Champions League.

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Henry Winter of The Telegraph reported more on negotiations between the two sides:

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Liverpool have been keen to tie down their most valuable player to a long-term deal. Sterling, whose current deal has more than two years left to run, is on roughly £30,000 with assorted first-team appearance bonuses. Liverpool’s new offer is understood to be £70,000 a week with handsome bonuses for progress in the major competitions.

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Now that Liverpool are out of the Champions League and labouring in the Premier League the prospect of additional payments is clearly less likely. The offer was described as “nowhere near acceptable” by the source.

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Rodgers is now experiencing a first-hand taste of what Champions League exposure can do to players in football's fickle modern era. Simply put, participation in Europe's elite competition turns heads.

That's something Sterling is now without. Liverpool's exit and immediate prospects for a return to the Champions League are discussed by B/R Lead Writer Alex Dimond:

Playing in the Champions League not only turns the heads of some of the continent's biggest clubs, but the interest from Madrid Mokbel references echoes earlier mooted interest from Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain, per Daily Express reporter Anthony Chapman:

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Liverpool are believed to be offering Sterling a five-year-deal with wages nearing £100,000-per-week, but the Reds are aware the situation is being closely monitored by European heavyweights Real Madrid and Paris St-Germain.

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Jose Mourinho is apparently keen to bring some of the brightest English talents to Stamford Bridge next summer, and is also keeping tabs on injured Everton star Ross Barkley as he looks to build a dynasty in west London.

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Chapman's report came in early October. It's now two months later and Liverpool still haven't agreed terms with a player Rodgers would surely consider a vital building block for the future.

Still just 19, Sterling has the pace and attacking dynamism to trouble any defence. The problem is he's shown precious little of either in recent matches.

The young England international has suffered more than most since the sale of creative force Luis Suarez, along with injuries to fellow fleet-footed forward Daniel Sturridge.

Alex Livesey/Getty Images

Without guile and pace around him, Sterling often finds himself isolated. It's become too easy for defences to crowd him out or restrict him to the channels.

It hasn't helped that the teenager has also appeared decidedly less than enthusiastic to carry the attacking burden this season. That could be a sign of growing impatience not to wait for the bright future Rodgers promises. Instead, Sterling could favour an imminent move to a club already firmly ensconced in Europe's upper echelon.

B/R Columnist and Sunday Times reporter Duncan Castles believes Rodgers may not even be around for the future he promises:

You couldn't choose a club more embodying Champions League royalty than 10-time European Cup winners Real. But Sterling would have to be incredibly optimistic to think he'd get into the Los Blancos side on his current form.

Ultimately, the burden will rest with Rodgers to convince a key attacking talent that he still has Liverpool pointed in the right direction. If he can't, expect the Anfield club and Sterling to part ways sooner rather than later.