Barrett has said today that we wont be held ransom by Sterling and Aidy Ward..
Yes, here's the piece in full:
Tony Barrett
Last updated at 12:01AM, March 31 2015
Liverpool are ready to play hardball with Raheem Sterling by keeping the forward to the terms of his present contract if they are unable to agree a new deal with him when negotiations resume at the end of this season.
Liverpool’s offer of a five-year contract worth about £100,000 per week has already been rejected by Aidy Ward, Sterling’s representative — it is believed that he has asked for £140,000 a week — and with the two parties unable to reach a compromise it was decided that a cooling-off period was necessary. Liverpool, though, maintain that they will not be pressurised into either giving Sterling a pay rise in excess of what they believe he is worth or selling the 20-year-old to a rival club should a resolution not be reached before the start of next season.
While there is an acceptance at Liverpool that Sterling’s value could depreciate after he enters the final two years of his contract in June, there is also a determination not to be railroaded into sanctioning his transfer regardless of the pressure they could come under.
Manchester City are long-term admirers of Sterling and the reality is that several other clubs would compete for his signature if the versatile attacking player became available. Liverpool’s view, however, is that selling him is the nuclear option and one that they remain determined to avoid, although should relations deteriorate that position could change.
Two years ago, John W Henry, Liverpool’s principal owner, blocked Arsenal’s attempt to sign Luis Suárez, saying it would be “ludicrous” to countenance strengthening a rival and it is understood that Sterling’s situation is viewed similarly, although the England player is not considered to be at the same level as the Uruguayan.
As things stand, Liverpool remain hopeful that Sterling will conclude that his immediate future lies with them but, should a new agreement not be reached, they are prepared to allow him to enter the penultimate year of a contract that earns him about £35,000 per week plus bonuses.
Unlike Suárez, who left Liverpool last summer after Barcelona agreed his £75 million release clause, suitors for Sterling cannot trigger his release that way as he does not have a similar stipulation in his contract. That will not prevent offers to sign Sterling but Liverpool’s position is that he is a key part of Brendan Rodgers’ short and long-term plans.
Having been informed by Sterling recently that he would prefer talks to be postponed until the summer, Liverpool have been disappointed that the player’s camp has indicated that a parting of the ways could occur as a result of the impasse that they remain determined to resolve.
Sterling is expected to be fit for Liverpool’s Premier League game away to Arsenal on Saturday despite missing England’s friendly away to Italy this evening.
Defeat would represent a serious setback to Liverpool’s hopes of finishing in the top four and qualifying for next season’s Champions League, a competition that Sterling’s camp believes he belongs in. Liverpool will also push for Daniel Sturridge to declare himself fit for the crucial clash at the Emirates Stadium, with the forward continuing his recovery from the hip injury that forced him to withdraw from the England squad for their games against Lithuania and Italy.
Elsewhere Rory Smith has slammed Sterling's agent for making a 'massive tactical mistake' of making the negotiations public.
Actually I think the club is quite good at being strong in these situations. But should the club let these situations arise in the first place? I'm not sure, but I think we should certainly try much harder to seize the initiative much earlier.