Raheem Sterling: Should Liverpool Cave in to Irrational Contract Demands?
The contract circumstances of Liverpool's English deep-lying forward/left attacking midfielder Raheem Sterling, 20, is just the beginning of what could be a laborious transfer saga.
You should realise Sterling stonewalling Liverpool's offer to extend his contract is an attempt to gain leverage over the club.
Sterling presumably wants more money, so you need to decide if he deserves it, or if Liverpool should sell him in the summer transfer window if he refuses to compromise.
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Controlling Your Own Destiny
If you have followed Sterling once he was tagged as a wunderkind, you know he has always shown assuredness, confidence and poise in his own worth.
Queens Park Rangers head of youth development Steve Gallen worked with Sterling day in, day out and still did not read the teenager's intentions.
November 9, 2009, per David Yuill at the London Evening Standard: "Queens Park Rangers are a big club and at no stage has [Sterling] said he wants to go. He's not interested in all the stuff around him, whether it's in the street, the car park or wherever."
October 13, 2010, per Ben Kosky at Brent and Kilburn Times: "Getting €567,408/£500,000 and possibly up to €1.1/£1 million for [Sterling], a 15-year-old, is a great deal. We're now making a statement, saying to other clubs 'these are our players and, if you want them, bring your chequebook'."
You presume Sterling told QPR "bring your chequebook" since that was the message he gave to all his suitors.
Considering QPR sold Sterling, you are inclined to believe the Hoops were unwilling to accommodate his financial demands.
While the Daily Mirror reported Sterling chose Liverpool "for football reasons," the newspaper provided details which contradicted that statement.
- Signing on bonus of €224,039/£200,000.
- [Arsenal, Fulham, Manchester City and Manchester United] "had tried to do a deal but found it hard to agree fees and terms with all of the parties involved."
- "The deal is potentially the biggest for a player of [Sterling's] age."
Sure, Liverpool are a better club than QPR, but don't act as if a troubled kid like Sterling did not see the Reds as the equivalent of winning the lotto.
"[Sterling] chose Liverpool because they paid more than anyone else," per Chris Bascombe at The Telegraph. "Not because they had any recent track record blooding youngsters."
Two years later, having transitioned from academy football to the Premier League, Sterling demanded a substantial salary increase.
Forget about steady, Sterling's avarice nature worried Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers.
"If you are 17 years of age and you are playing regularly, you would be very foolish not to commit [to a new contract]," Rodgers said, per Andy Hunter at The Guardian. "I would think if I am Raheem Sterling and his agents, I would look to tie it up very quickly."
Sterling's €2,456/£2,000-a-week salary at Liverpool soared to €36,845/£30,000-a-week, per Ben Smith at BBC Sport, upon signing a five-year extension in 2012.
"This won't be the biggest contract of [Sterling's] life," Rodgers said, per Dominic King at the Daily Mail. "What he has shown just now is fantastic potential."
In 2015, the most accurate compliment you can give to Sterling is he shows "fantastic potential."
Figuring out Sterling's Mindset
Liverpool are fine with Sterling's salary jumping to €136,680/£100,000 a week but are refusing to grant his claim of €205,021/£150,000-a-week, per James Pearce at the Liverpool Echo.
Shooting on target 40.9 percent of the time and scoring six goals from 66 shots at 11 shots per goal in the Premier League this season are not flattering numbers for Sterling.
How can Liverpool trust Sterling when he cannot even consistently finish in front of goal?
There are 129 footballers from the Bundesliga, La Liga, Ligue 1, Premier League and Serie A who have outscored (seven goals) Sterling (six goals) in league-play.
When Sterling scores 20 goals in a Premier League season, that is when he should pressure Liverpool for an improved contract.
In terms of footballers 20 years or younger from the Bundesliga, La Liga, Ligue 1, Premier League and Serie A, Sterling has the most assists (seven).
Berardi's annual salary is €1.1 million/£802,488, per Carlo Laudisa at La Gazzetta dello Sport, which equates to around €21,153/£15,432-a-week.
This shows you Sterling cannot justify his outlandish wage demands.
It appears Sterling's representatives are projecting the inflated salaries in the coming years following the €7/£5.1 billion Premier League TV deal.
If Sterling is stung by the backlash, he needs to understand most fair-minded people don't have any problems with him requesting more money—if he deserves it.
But Sterling is wrong to hold the club ransom when he is not a world-class footballer and has yet to lead Liverpool to a Premier League title.
As illustrated by Omar Momani, Sterling wants stacks of cash. He is probably spending too much time on Floyd Mayweather Jr's Instagram.
Sterling's Problem
Yes, it would be inconvenient if Liverpool were forced to sell Sterling in the summer transfer window.
Still, Sterling loses out more should this happen.
Not only would it open the door for Jordon Ibe, but Sterling is not a lock to star at any of Liverpool's Premier League rivals.
- Chelsea: Eden Hazard owns the left flank.
- Manchester City: The youngest regular starter is Eliaquim Mangala, a 24-year-old.
- Arsenal: Unless Alexis Sanchez or Mesut Ozil leave, then Sterling is not a guaranteed starter.
- Manchester United: Could end up being a misfit in Louis van Gaal's squad, a la Adnan Januzaj.
What Sterling needs to do is stay at Liverpool.
It seems Sterling is posturing for a better deal without really wanting to leave Liverpool, which would be a high-risk move from a development point of view.
Meanwhile, Liverpool must be firm in their stance by not opening a Pandora's box in overpaying Sterling based on his potential rather than his productivity.
Rodgers foreshadowed Sterling's entitlement personality.
"I worked with players at Swansea City who had spent their lives in football and never earned more than two grand a week," Rodgers said, per Tim Rich at The Independent. "The biggest thing that distorts the reality of footballers is money. If we are going to help young footballers, you have to protect them and not give them big contracts."
When not specified, statistics via WhoScored.com.
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