If and when Liverpool finally find a Raheem Sterling sale price that suits them, what happens next will be just as momentous, if not more so, than the news of Sterling’s transfer to Manchester City, or whoever it is that makes the purchase. Because how Liverpool then handles the financial windfall will be critical in setting the club’s course for years to come.
Look no further than last summer, with the sale of Luis Suarez.
Suarez was and still is an elite player; but all his issues and baggage meant that he had to go. Liverpool got paid, and paid quite well for him, but the players that they bought with that influx of cash didn’t all pan out. The Reds fell from second to 6th, championship contenders to the Europa League in just one season.
You can point fingers in many places, but the fact remains, Brendan Rodgers was never able to replace the production of Suarez. Not only was he great, but he made Daniel Sturridge and Raheem Sterling that much better.
Unfortunately, Sterling has been extremely unsettled for quite some time, and Sturridge was injured for a significant portion of the season.
Today, there are multiple reports that Raheem Sterling will report to Liverpool Training Camp on Monday. The team plans to take him on their preseason tour. The Sunday Telegraph is making claims that his future could be settled in the next seven days. The publication says that Manchester City will return with a third and much larger bid.
The Daily Star Sunday edition claims Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini will land the wayward forward Raheem at the third attempt – for £45 million.
That amount is £14.7 less than the all time British transfer record (Manchester United, Angel Di Maria), but it’s still a HUGE amount of money.
Liverpool would be wise to embrace a fast learning curve; and not repeat the post sale of Luis Suarez mistakes in the wake of sending Raheem Sterling to Man City.
Paul M. Banks owns, operates and writes The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with Fox Sports Digital. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, currently contributes to the Chicago Tribune RedEye edition. He also appears regularly on numerous sports talk radio stations all across the country.
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