Liverpool’s Raheem Sterling To Join Manchester United?
Reports have emerged that Manchester United has joined the race to sign Liverpool winger Raheem Sterling. Sterling, 20, is currently locked in a bitter contract negotiation with Liverpool after rebuffing a mega deal to stay at Anfield. Manchester United has already beaten Liverpool to sign Dutch international Memphis Depay.
Manchester United is keen to upset their North West rivals by attempting to sign Raheem Sterling after the Jamaican-born told Liverpool manager, Brendan Rodgers, that he would like to leave Anfield this summer.
Raheem Sterling and his representatives are due to meet Brendan Rodgers and Liverpool’s chief executive, Ian Ayre, on Friday. Sterling has been chastised by Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher. Carragher stated, “For a 20-year-old kid to be taking on Liverpool Football Club over a contract. To the pit of my stomach that just winds me up, it angers me.”
“The lad is from London and he obviously wants to go back home. It might not be about money. It may be about trophies or playing in the Champions League. If it’s about trophies, Liverpool had a chance for a trophy this year, in the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley against Aston Villa. Where was Sterling? If you want trophies, they don’t get given to you, you have to earn them, you have to play well in big games. What did Liverpool do in the Champions League? Nothing. What did Sterling do? Nothing.”
John Barnes, ex-Liverpool and English winger, also had harsh words for young Sterling.
“He has not achieved anything, he has not won anything. Look, I have no issue with his saying he wants to leave Liverpool – that is modern football and there is no point being angry about something that is a reality now. If he wants to go, you accept it and let him go. But where I would ask him the question is, does he really believe he’s ready for that move right now? Going in as that front line player, as an automatic first team star with the massive price tag and the pressure that brings on his shoulders, that is an incredible burden to carry at his age.”
Manchester United are not the only club said to be interested in Raheem Sterling. Manchester City and Bayern Munich have lodged their interest as well. In the past, Liverpool have rebuffed the efforts of their rivals attempted to sign their star players.
Should he choose to sign for Manchester United, Liverpool’s Raheem Sterling would become the first player to transfer between the club since Phil Chisnall.
[Photo by Stu Forster / Getty Images]
