Soccer

Raheem Sterling agent says reports are ‘blown out of proportion’

Liverpool attacker will resume contract negotiations this week

Reports had claimed that Raheem Sterling was set to tell Liverpool he wants to leave the club in the summer when talks between the two parties resume this week. Photo: Lynne Cameron/PA
Reports had claimed that Raheem Sterling was set to tell Liverpool he wants to leave the club in the summer when talks between the two parties resume this week. Photo: Lynne Cameron/PA
Tue May 19 2015 - 15:51

Raheem Sterling's agent claims reports the Liverpool forward is set to the tell the club he wants to leave this summer have "been blown somewhat out of proportion".

Aidy Ward, the 20-year-old’s long-time representative, said he and the player were always scheduled to meet Reds officials this week and insists they will move forward from there.

“The story has been blown somewhat out of proportion,” he said in a statement to talksport.

“Raheem and his representatives have a meeting scheduled with Liverpool later this week, and we will take proceedings from there.”

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Sterling has two years left on his current deal but rejected a reported £100,000-a-week offer earlier this year and negotiations were put on hold until the end of the season.

The reports have generally been viewed as another public relations disaster by Sterling’s camp, after a pre-arranged television interview in April in which the youngster claimed he was not a “money-grabber”.

Rumours

A dip in performance levels this season has not helped him, while the row over whether he was too tired to play in a Euro 2016 qualifier back in October also soured his relationship with England fans.

And regular links with the likes of Manchester City, Arsenal and Bayern Munich have led to accusations his head has been turned.

However, former Liverpool winger John Barnes cautioned Sterling over making a hasty decision which could impact his long-term future.

“Raheem has not achieved anything, he has not won anything,” Barnes told BBC Radio 5 Live.

“Raheem has great potential but Liverpool gave him an opportunity and he should stay for a couple of years.

“The time is not right for him to move, but if he wants to move the club should sell him. The manager cannot keep an unhappy player.

“This idea of leaving one huge club to join another huge club does not sit well with me, but it is a modern era where the power is in the players’ hands.

“Does anyone believe that if he goes to Manchester City he will be the first name on the team sheet or are they just signing him because they need English players?

"If he goes to Manchester City, to give himself a chance of winning the league, he will not become a regular for them. We have seen it with players in the past like Scott Sinclair. "