Andy Gray: ‘Liverpool must not be held to ransom by Raheem Sterling’

Sport360 staff 20:16 03/04/2015
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  • Andy Gray and Richard Keys offer their views on Raheem Sterling's contract requests.

    Raheem Sterling this week declared he has put contract talks with Liverpool on hold, leaving his long-term future at Anfield in serious doubt. Andy Gray and Richard Keys, who front beIN Sports’ Premier League coverage, discuss just what the Reds should do with the young forward and whether or not he’s worth breaking the bank to keep at the club…

    ANDY GRAY:

    “If I was John W. Henry I wouldn’t pay him what he wants at his age. I’d pay him a good wage, a fair wage that reflects on what he’s achieved in the game and what he potentially might achieve.  

    “You don’t say, ‘we’ll pay you whatever you want’ –  that would be crazy. Raheem is a young man who’s making his way in the game, he’ll get advice from his agent and his family and he’ll react to that. 

    “You don’t get held to ransom by a 20-year-old who in fairness, hasn’t achieved that much. He’s a terrific young player and as a 19-year-old last year he was arguably the best teenager in the world but he really hasn’t taken that on this year.

    “He’s played well but he hasn’t had the sustained impact that he had in the league last season. He’s still got a lot to learn.

    “I think he should be concentrating more on his football than his money. He’ll never have to want in this life again. He’ll earn more money than he can spend.

    “When I hear players talk like this it’s almost like he’s dipping his toe in the water and he’s seeing if he’s getting any bites and it seems like he’s getting a few; particularly Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City. 

    “There’s a lot more to be done, there’s a lot more to be said and there are a lot more conversations to take place but Liverpool could have done without this in the last eight games of the season. 

    “I’ve always said if I was him I’d be definitely stay for another season and see what develops because he’s at a good club. Trouble is in the last month he’s been messed about a little, and I know Brendan Rodgers believes playing him in different positions is making him a better player, but no Brendan, I’m sorry it doesn’t.

    “It might give you an understanding of how to play right-back but he doesn’t want an understanding of how to play right-back. He wants to play higher up the pitch. So maybe one or two things have happened that have made him hold off a little because, you know what, I don’t want to spend my life playing as a wing-back. 

    “There’s no doubt Liverpool are a better side with him in the team. But I think we make life too easy for our young players these days. We don’t really give them enough incentive and I think that’s a huge thing. I can list young English players who have been given huge contracts and we’ve never seen them again and I would hate that to happen to Raheem Sterling. 

    “I don’t know if Liverpool have £150k to pay him and they would be setting a very dangerous precedent if they did pay him that. Should Jordan Henderson be then accepting £60-80k a week when he plays more football for Liverpool than Sterling, who’s then on double his money?

    “Then Coutinho comes in and says: ‘I’ve had a great season this year I want £150k a week’, then all of a sudden you’re sticking fingers in dams to stop them bursting. 

    “It doesn’t matter to City or Chelsea paying him that sort of money as it won’t affect the equilibrium of the squad or the team, because there are players there earning more than that.

    “There are huge problems with paying Raheem Sterling £150k-a-week and are they worth it?   

    “It’s a difficult one for Liverpool: a) they don’t want to be held to ransom and b) they don’t want to lose one of their better players. 

    “Arsenal would be a fit for him but I don’t see why Arsenal would be so keen to have him. He plays in the wide areas of the pich where Arsenal already have Oxlade-Chamberlain, Walcott, Cazorla, Sanchez and centrally they have Ozil and Ramsey. Arsenal’s problems are elsewhere in the pitch and they’ll be far better suited to shoring up other parts of the squad than that area. 

    “It’s very appealing for Manchester City because a) he’s a very good player and b) he’s British, which would help them with Financial Fair Play. 

    RICHARD KEYS:

    “Raheem Sterling isn’t worth £100k-a-week, he’s worth more,” says Keys. “With Steven Gerrard and Glen Johnson coming off the wage bill and with the television revenues going up 70 per cent, if Liverpool want to keep someone who’s generally regarded as one of the best young talents at his age, then they have to pay the going rate and there’s no point trying not to. I think they’re playing a very dangerous and silly game and I think it’ll blow up in their faces.

    “He certainly hasn’t done anything wrong, he’s playing by the rules. I really don’t understand what the fuss is all about. Loyalty? Sorry, there isn’t any. Loyalty ends with the next pay packet.

    “I didn’t hear Liverpool screaming the same line when they nicked three off Southampton in the summer with the promise of more money and Champions League football. Are they saying that if Kenny Dalglish hadn’t taken him from QPR no one else would have done? Of course they would. Football isn’t the same as it once was and I have absolutely no problem with him asking for as much as he can get. He, with Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge, nearly took them to a title last year. 

    “Managers talk about loyalty but they’re as guilty as anyone else. When Rodgers was at Swansea and Liverpool came calling did he think, ‘I must stay here because they picked me off my backside when Reading sacked me’, no, it’s how it is. 

    “Rodgers called Liverpool a superpower today. If they really are one then go and make a statement and right now that has to be: we will not let Raheem Sterling leave.

    “If there’s a problem beyond that, that he doesn’t fancy the coach, then that’s another issue that needs addressing. If there is an issue there then give him the deal that he wants and if he turns it down then we’ll know. 

    “From that perspective Liverpool have got a big decision to make: back the coach or back the player? If Liverpool don’t finish in the top four they may be tempted to back the player. 

    “What arrogance for Liverpool to suggest he should continue his education there. Why? He’d be better getting an education among better players, the sort at three other English clubs who would want him plus Bayern Munich, Real Madrid and Barcelona, all of whom would be happy to take the kid if his contract runs out. 

    “The minute this first blew up I said he won’t sign and I still believe that. If I was Liverpool I’d be planning for that to be the case.

    “I do not for the life of me understand why Rodgers just saying you should be grateful to be here, why? He could play for any club in England, there’s no gratitude required on his part.

    “The same agent looks after Saido Berahino, who Liverpool are allegedly after. Do the same morals apply to him? Should they not try and sign him and let him continue his education at West Brom? No, of course not, don’t be daft. 

    “I think he can do better than Arsenal. They are better than Liverpool and they’ll prove it this weekend but if I’m Sterling I’d look beyond that.

    “My guess would be right now City and Chelsea would have a go for him. But there are plenty of places he can go and probably should go if he wants to win things. Liverpool are trying to persuade us it’s happening there, I don’t think it is. 

    “Last year I would have loved them to win the Premier League title but I think they’ve gone backwards, and dramatically at that. 

    “I’d pay him what he wants; he’s their best player at the moment and what cost will it be to replace him? 

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