Liverpool’s Raheem Sterling Holding Out For A Move To Arsenal?

Liverpool and Raheem Sterling are currently deadlocked in a bitter contract negotiation, and Sterling has not hidden the fact that he is willing to push for a move away from the Merseyside club. Sterling, 20, is said to be holding out for a move back to London with Arsenal, his preferred choice.

After a disappointing season, Liverpool are not willing to sell one of their top assets to rival. However, reports suggest that the club would let Raheem Sterling leave for a fee upwards of $100 million. Sterling is said to be a target of a number of top English and European clubs.

Arsenal’s veteran manager, Arsene Wenger, supported Raheem Sterling and blamed his agent for coming out publicly, fueling the fire of the transfer rumor.

“I am not sure that it is the player causing the problem. Most of the time it is not the player who causes the problems. I don’t want to single out people but discretion is the best way to deal with things because once it goes public it is very difficult to mask, you have so many opinions.”

Wenger went on to state that he prefers deals done in a quieter manner than the Sterling fiasco.

“You know how it works, as well as I know. The agent’s interest is to put the story in public. Personally, even for the player, I think always the best deals we have done is when it was quiet, calm and secret.”

Raheem Sterling was dropped amid the current contract saga. However, Liverpool went on to suffer their worst defeat in the history of the Barclays Premier League.

Despite that, Sterling was not spared criticism. Fans were visibly upset with the young English international and received a chorus of boos from Liverpool fans while warming up before and during the game.

Former Liverpool player Mark Lawrenson said it is virtually impossible for Raheem Sterling to revive his Liverpool career.

“I just can’t see the England man being at the club at the start of next season. Let’s face it, amid all the chatter from Sterling and his agent, there have been enough chances for the player to say he wants to stay. It’s clear he doesn’t. The warning signs were there earlier in the year when Sterling said he wanted to put his contract talks on hold.”

Will Liverpool allow Raheem Sterling to join Arsenal?

[Photo by Alex Livesey / Getty Images]