Perhaps some other clubs think 'it won't happen to me'. It's not a business that demands a long term view, is it?
Sterling to Tell Rodgers he wants to leave this summer
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Perhaps some other clubs think 'it won't happen to me'. It's not a business that demands a long term view, is it?
He's a massive fucking bellend.
He can walk in front of a bus for all I care at this stage.
I'm not sure what that even means macca. Wish you were here though gorgeous. Weathers lovely. Shame Sterling is a cunt!
I think you're the massive whopping thunder cunt for being in the Caribbean whilst I'm not.
That's all a bit, er, naïve. You can't appeal to the better nature of a weasel.
the glass is half-full my friend.
No, suffering.
I'd agree with you if he'd made one misstep over this, but he's made a whole collection of them. Young though he may be, he's still an adult and has to accept responsibility for himself.
That it is. If he keeps on this way - and if he doesn't choose his company far more wisely - he'll end up like Gazza, albeit for different reasons.
The thing is though, even if he fucks his career up and is done in 7 years, enough clubs will have taken a punt on him to make him a multimillionaire and he'll never have to work again.
Raheem Sterling: Liverpool have no reason to panic & let him leave this summer... just remember Suarez
Aidy Ward seems to have a rather tenuous grasp on the mechanics of football, so perhaps the time has come to offer a reminder of how it actually works.
First things first: when a player is under contract, he plays under the terms of that contract. It's kind of enshrined in law.
His assertion that Raheem Sterling won't play at Anfield at any price rather puzzlingly seems to ignore the obvious fact that... err... he will.
And just to enlighten him even further, he is legally obliged to do it – over the next 26 months – for the sum detailed within his contract, which just happens to be £35,000 a week or so, not the £900,000 a week he says his client won't play for.
Now that we've got that straight, there's another thing he probably needs to reconsider ever so slightly. When Ward says it doesn't matter if people say he's bad at his job, or he is badly advising his clients, well, err, it sort of does. For many reasons in fact, but most notably because if too many people are saying that, he may not have clients for very long.
Let's concentrate on the contract though. Ward says Sterling won't sign a new one for any money. So, is he trying to get the best deal for his client or not? Liverpool have called off talks over a new deal, largely because the agent has basically made that meeting pointless. But again, is that in the client's best interests? Is it best practice? What happens if Liverpool actually make a better all round off - in terms of money and football prospects - than any other club? Does Sterling have to get a new agent to listen to it?
I'm sure there is a reason behind all this posturing, and it really has been that; too transparent for words in fact, because pieces he's placed in the media in recent days may as well have had his byline on them.
Yet underneath that posturing, that desperate destabilisation and obvious attempt to make Sterling's position at Anfield untenable, you have to ask the question, why? Why conduct affairs in such a publicly unpleasant manner?
Usually – in fact scrub that, virtually always – it is for the simple fact there are no offers which have met a club's valuation, and prospective buying clubs have asked the agent to kick up a fuss to try and knock the price down.
So what we suspect is, not only does Sterling want to leave, but his representatives want to dictate the price... and force the figure below Liverpool's idea of market value.
Here's a tip for Ward though: you can do that when you hold all the cards. But when your client has 26 months left on his contract, you don't hold all the cards.
Here's a little bit of maths for everyone to consider. Liverpool found themselves in an uncannily similar situation to this one with Luis Suarez a little under two years ago. He too suggested he wouldn't play at Anfield any more, and wanted out to Arsenal. Funnily enough, he had two years left on his contract.
Six months later he was still a Liverpool player enjoying the best season of his life, and even signed a new contract. Just under 12 months later, he left Anfield for almost double what Arsenal were offering.
So, the precedent for Sterling is that Arsenal tried to get Suarez for less than market value when he had two years left to run... and failed miserably. If City try to do the same, then surely they and Sterling realise it will be doomed to the same failure.
Bear in mind too Suarez actually signed a new deal. Why? Well, because he was losing around £7m a year by not signing one. Sterling will face exactly that same situation over the next two years. If he stays on his current contract, he could lose around £12m before he becomes a free agent.
Liverpool will save that of course, and will also be entitled to compensation if the player ultimately leaves under the Bosman ruling. Sterling already earns about six times Danny Ings' salary, and the compensation for Ings is around £5m. Potentially, Liverpool's compensation could be two, three or even four times that.
So, quite possibly, they will be £20m or more in, even if he sees out his contract and leaves in the summer of 2017. Under those circumstances, it would be crazy to sell him to, say, oh, let's take a wild guess, ManchesterCity, for, another wild guess, £20-30m. Pointless.
Which is why Liverpool called off those talks. They don't need to panic in any way. They can afford to wait until the end of the summer, until January, even until next summer. And their experience tells them they can get more for Sterling by holding out, just as they did for Suarez.
Don't believe that? Well, do you think Manchester United will get less for David de Gea this summer, when he has a year left on his contract, than they would have last summer? They'll probably get more.
It's the mechanics of football. There is one other thing he hasn't grasped either. It's not exactly a great idea to insult Jamie Carragher, when there's a good chance you may bump into his dad at some point in the future...
- OPINION
- BY DAVIDMADDOCK
Aidy Ward seems to have a rather tenuous grasp on the mechanics of football, so perhaps the time has come to offer a reminder of how it actually works.
First things first: when a player is under contract, he plays under the terms of that contract. It's kind of enshrined in law.
His assertion that Raheem Sterling won't play at Anfield at any price rather puzzlingly seems to ignore the obvious fact that... err... he will.
And just to enlighten him even further, he is legally obliged to do it – over the next 26 months – for the sum detailed within his contract, which just happens to be £35,000 a week or so, not the £900,000 a week he says his client won't play for.
Now that we've got that straight, there's another thing he probably needs to reconsider ever so slightly. When Ward says it doesn't matter if people say he's bad at his job, or he is badly advising his clients, well, err, it sort of does. For many reasons in fact, but most notably because if too many people are saying that, he may not have clients for very long.
Let's concentrate on the contract though. Ward says Sterling won't sign a new one for any money. So, is he trying to get the best deal for his client or not? Liverpool have called off talks over a new deal, largely because the agent has basically made that meeting pointless. But again, is that in the client's best interests? Is it best practice? What happens if Liverpool actually make a better all round off - in terms of money and football prospects - than any other club? Does Sterling have to get a new agent to listen to it?
I'm sure there is a reason behind all this posturing, and it really has been that; too transparent for words in fact, because pieces he's placed in the media in recent days may as well have had his byline on them.
Yet underneath that posturing, that desperate destabilisation and obvious attempt to make Sterling's position at Anfield untenable, you have to ask the question, why? Why conduct affairs in such a publicly unpleasant manner?
Usually – in fact scrub that, virtually always – it is for the simple fact there are no offers which have met a club's valuation, and prospective buying clubs have asked the agent to kick up a fuss to try and knock the price down.
So what we suspect is, not only does Sterling want to leave, but his representatives want to dictate the price... and force the figure below Liverpool's idea of market value.
Here's a tip for Ward though: you can do that when you hold all the cards. But when your client has 26 months left on his contract, you don't hold all the cards.
Here's a little bit of maths for everyone to consider. Liverpool found themselves in an uncannily similar situation to this one with Luis Suarez a little under two years ago. He too suggested he wouldn't play at Anfield any more, and wanted out to Arsenal. Funnily enough, he had two years left on his contract.
Six months later he was still a Liverpool player enjoying the best season of his life, and even signed a new contract. Just under 12 months later, he left Anfield for almost double what Arsenal were offering.
So, the precedent for Sterling is that Arsenal tried to get Suarez for less than market value when he had two years left to run... and failed miserably. If City try to do the same, then surely they and Sterling realise it will be doomed to the same failure.
Bear in mind too Suarez actually signed a new deal. Why? Well, because he was losing around £7m a year by not signing one. Sterling will face exactly that same situation over the next two years. If he stays on his current contract, he could lose around £12m before he becomes a free agent.
Liverpool will save that of course, and will also be entitled to compensation if the player ultimately leaves under the Bosman ruling. Sterling already earns about six times Danny Ings' salary, and the compensation for Ings is around £5m. Potentially, Liverpool's compensation could be two, three or even four times that.
So, quite possibly, they will be £20m or more in, even if he sees out his contract and leaves in the summer of 2017. Under those circumstances, it would be crazy to sell him to, say, oh, let's take a wild guess, ManchesterCity, for, another wild guess, £20-30m. Pointless.
Which is why Liverpool called off those talks. They don't need to panic in any way. They can afford to wait until the end of the summer, until January, even until next summer. And their experience tells them they can get more for Sterling by holding out, just as they did for Suarez.
Don't believe that? Well, do you think Manchester United will get less for David de Gea this summer, when he has a year left on his contract, than they would have last summer? They'll probably get more.
It's the mechanics of football. There is one other thing he hasn't grasped either. It's not exactly a great idea to insult Jamie Carragher, when there's a good chance you may bump into his dad at some point in the future...
Holle back mofo!
Yep, an interesting read.
Apologies if already posted or old news but...
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/32823829
Apologies if already posted or old news but...
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/32823829
Haha. Great article from Maddock.
Good article. A refreshing rarity.
From tomorrow's Times:
Tony Barrett
Published 1 minute ago
Raheem Sterling’s relationship with Liverpool has plumbed new depths after scheduled talks with his representative, Aidy Ward, were cancelled once the agent was quoted in a controversial newspaper report saying that his client would “definitely not be signing” a new contract.
As the eight-month-long saga continued to unravel, Ward’s intention to inform Liverpool personally of Sterling’s desire to leave was undermined by the appearance of an article in the London Evening Standard that prompted the Merseyside club to put today’s planned meeting on hold.
“I don’t care about the PR of the club and the club situation,” Ward was quoted as saying. “I don’t care. He is definitely not signing. He’s not signing for £700,000, £800,000, £900,000 a week. He is not signing. My job is to make sure I do the best with them [my clients]. If people say I am bad at my job, or they are badly advised it does not matter.”
Although Ward disputed making the remarks and was understood to be considering his legal options, Liverpool were of the view that the process had been compromised by the unseemly turn of events and called off the summit, which was to have involved Brendan Rodgers and Ian Ayre, the club’s manager and chief executive respectively.
Rodgers must decide whether to select Sterling for Liverpool’s final Barclays Premier League game of the season, away to Stoke City on Sunday, in the knowledge that the forward is likely to be persona non grata with the club’s supporters and could also be distracted by the latest developments.
The Liverpool manager has been aware of Sterling’s fall from grace in the eyes of the Liverpool fans since the contract stand-off began with the England international rejecting a new deal worth up to £100,000 per week in February. Rodgers has continued to pick the 20-year-old despite a growing sense of acrimony.
The latest developments, though, raise the prospect of Sterling falling victim to vociferous crowd abuse at the end of a week that began with him being heckled by supporters at Liverpool’s player of the year awards dinner and Rodgers will have to take that into consideration.
The situation and the increasing polarisation of the two parties will serve to fuel the interest of those clubs who are hoping to prise Sterling away from Anfield this summer. Manchester United have made an inquiry that Liverpool rejected, while Manchester City, Chelsea and Arsenal all hold a strong interest in the player.
Liverpool maintain that Sterling will not be sold this summer, but the prospect of keeping a disgruntled player is unlikely to have been made more appealing by Ward’s latest alleged comments.
Liverpool’s stance on Sterling’s future remains unchanged, according to sources close to the club yesterday. As things stand, Sterling will be held to his contract, worth £35,000 per week, unless Liverpool have a change of heart as a result of an offer being received of such largesse that it prompts a rethink.
According to the London Evening Standard, Ward also launched a personal attack on Jamie Carragher — who has been outspoken in his criticism of the way Sterling’s contract situation has been handled by his agent — and a number of former Liverpool players who have also questioned the guidance he has provided.
“Carragher is a k***,” Ward is reported to have said. “Everybody knows it. Any of the criticism from current pundits or ex-Liverpool players — none of them things matter to me. It is not relevant. I am not worried; worried is making a decision not knowing what is going to happen. Every Premier League club will make a bid for him.”
Tony Barrett
Published 1 minute ago
Raheem Sterling’s relationship with Liverpool has plumbed new depths after scheduled talks with his representative, Aidy Ward, were cancelled once the agent was quoted in a controversial newspaper report saying that his client would “definitely not be signing” a new contract.
As the eight-month-long saga continued to unravel, Ward’s intention to inform Liverpool personally of Sterling’s desire to leave was undermined by the appearance of an article in the London Evening Standard that prompted the Merseyside club to put today’s planned meeting on hold.
“I don’t care about the PR of the club and the club situation,” Ward was quoted as saying. “I don’t care. He is definitely not signing. He’s not signing for £700,000, £800,000, £900,000 a week. He is not signing. My job is to make sure I do the best with them [my clients]. If people say I am bad at my job, or they are badly advised it does not matter.”
Although Ward disputed making the remarks and was understood to be considering his legal options, Liverpool were of the view that the process had been compromised by the unseemly turn of events and called off the summit, which was to have involved Brendan Rodgers and Ian Ayre, the club’s manager and chief executive respectively.
Rodgers must decide whether to select Sterling for Liverpool’s final Barclays Premier League game of the season, away to Stoke City on Sunday, in the knowledge that the forward is likely to be persona non grata with the club’s supporters and could also be distracted by the latest developments.
The Liverpool manager has been aware of Sterling’s fall from grace in the eyes of the Liverpool fans since the contract stand-off began with the England international rejecting a new deal worth up to £100,000 per week in February. Rodgers has continued to pick the 20-year-old despite a growing sense of acrimony.
The latest developments, though, raise the prospect of Sterling falling victim to vociferous crowd abuse at the end of a week that began with him being heckled by supporters at Liverpool’s player of the year awards dinner and Rodgers will have to take that into consideration.
The situation and the increasing polarisation of the two parties will serve to fuel the interest of those clubs who are hoping to prise Sterling away from Anfield this summer. Manchester United have made an inquiry that Liverpool rejected, while Manchester City, Chelsea and Arsenal all hold a strong interest in the player.
Liverpool maintain that Sterling will not be sold this summer, but the prospect of keeping a disgruntled player is unlikely to have been made more appealing by Ward’s latest alleged comments.
Liverpool’s stance on Sterling’s future remains unchanged, according to sources close to the club yesterday. As things stand, Sterling will be held to his contract, worth £35,000 per week, unless Liverpool have a change of heart as a result of an offer being received of such largesse that it prompts a rethink.
According to the London Evening Standard, Ward also launched a personal attack on Jamie Carragher — who has been outspoken in his criticism of the way Sterling’s contract situation has been handled by his agent — and a number of former Liverpool players who have also questioned the guidance he has provided.
“Carragher is a k***,” Ward is reported to have said. “Everybody knows it. Any of the criticism from current pundits or ex-Liverpool players — none of them things matter to me. It is not relevant. I am not worried; worried is making a decision not knowing what is going to happen. Every Premier League club will make a bid for him.”
a what?
Watch out, Gordon's about, gawd help us.
The Professional Footballers’ Association could provide an emergency solution to the escalating contractual dispute between the Raheem Sterling camp and Liverpool, after the club cancelled Friday’s scheduled talks on the issue when the player’s agent said he would even refuse an offer of “£900,000 a week”.
The PFA was involved in resolving Luis Suarez’s contractual dispute with the same club when he had been denied the chance to talk to Arsenal two years ago and it is understood that chief executive Gordon Taylor would be prepared to help mediate if there was a genuine desire to resolve the stand-off.
Taylor is aware of how the toxicity of the Sterling controversy is beginning to cause new damage to the reputation of the game. But the players’ union is reluctant to offer itself publicly as a mediator, knowing how delicate such situations can be, and would wait to be asked.
Sterling’s agent will tell Liverpool that extraordinary observations he made in a telephone interview with a news reporter from the London Evening Standard – including the “£900,000 a week” comment – were given off the cuff and not intended for publication, though the paper entirely stands by the interview. Liverpool abandoned the talks at the Melwood training ground after Aidy Ward said of Sterling: “He is definitely not signing. He’s not signing for £700, £800, £900,000 a week. He is not signing.”
Ward will insist that was not a deliberate attempt to damage an already fractured relationship with the club, though after a week in which the 20-year-old’s determination to leave has been made so clear, it is difficult to envisage a breakthrough between the two sides. It appears from Ward’s tone and Sterling’s determination to leave Liverpool that another club have let it be known that they are ready to make public an offer which is too good to refuse when the transfer window opens.
Taylor’s experience is that once disputes such as this become public, they are harder to resolve and will escalate, and the PFA’s first advice to the Sterling camp would be that the situation should be handled more delicately and less publicly.
In the Suarez case, the players’ union encouraged a rephrasing of the player’s contract, which had left ambiguity about whether he was entitled to talk to Arsenal when they came in with a bid of a penny more than £40m.
PFA involvement requires the commitment of both sides to the mediation process and it is unclear whether such willingness exists in this case. Since the PFA represents Manchester City’s James Milner, whose contract issues have been handled with delicacy, Taylor could certainly tell Sterling that a move to a Champions League club offers no guarantees of first-team football. But the union seeks only to get to the source of the dispute in such situations, establish one party’s position on it and put it to the other.
Liverpool’s American owners, Fenway Sports Group, are thought to feel that a point of principle exists about players keeping to their contracts. But their refusal to let Suarez leave was helped by the then 26-year-old’s desire to play, which resulted in his superb final season. Forcing a more immature and emotional Sterling to remain on the sidelines if necessary is a far riskier strategy.
Ward told the Standard he “didn’t care” about the club or its image, dismissed criticism by former players as “irrelevant” and branded Liverpool legend and Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher “a knob”.
He said: “I don’t care about the PR of the club and the club situation. I don’t care. He is definitely not signing. He’s not signing for £700, £800, £900,000 a week. He is not signing. My job is to make sure I do the best with them [my clients]. If people say I am bad at my job, or they are badly advised, it does not matter.”
Taylor clearly feels concern for the player, something the England manager, Roy Hodgson, also expressed yesterday. “I worry for all these young players,” he said. “They become stars very quickly. Their period of potential stardom doesn’t last for very long these days. Sometimes a few games in the Premier League and you are a star. We should never forget we’re dealing with young people. I believe from what I know of Raheem that he’s strong enough to compartmentalise his life – from this side to what happens on the field of play, which is what interests me. But I do sympathise with them.”
[From the Independent]
The Professional Footballers’ Association could provide an emergency solution to the escalating contractual dispute between the Raheem Sterling camp and Liverpool, after the club cancelled Friday’s scheduled talks on the issue when the player’s agent said he would even refuse an offer of “£900,000 a week”.
The PFA was involved in resolving Luis Suarez’s contractual dispute with the same club when he had been denied the chance to talk to Arsenal two years ago and it is understood that chief executive Gordon Taylor would be prepared to help mediate if there was a genuine desire to resolve the stand-off.
Taylor is aware of how the toxicity of the Sterling controversy is beginning to cause new damage to the reputation of the game. But the players’ union is reluctant to offer itself publicly as a mediator, knowing how delicate such situations can be, and would wait to be asked.
Sterling’s agent will tell Liverpool that extraordinary observations he made in a telephone interview with a news reporter from the London Evening Standard – including the “£900,000 a week” comment – were given off the cuff and not intended for publication, though the paper entirely stands by the interview. Liverpool abandoned the talks at the Melwood training ground after Aidy Ward said of Sterling: “He is definitely not signing. He’s not signing for £700, £800, £900,000 a week. He is not signing.”
Ward will insist that was not a deliberate attempt to damage an already fractured relationship with the club, though after a week in which the 20-year-old’s determination to leave has been made so clear, it is difficult to envisage a breakthrough between the two sides. It appears from Ward’s tone and Sterling’s determination to leave Liverpool that another club have let it be known that they are ready to make public an offer which is too good to refuse when the transfer window opens.
Taylor’s experience is that once disputes such as this become public, they are harder to resolve and will escalate, and the PFA’s first advice to the Sterling camp would be that the situation should be handled more delicately and less publicly.
In the Suarez case, the players’ union encouraged a rephrasing of the player’s contract, which had left ambiguity about whether he was entitled to talk to Arsenal when they came in with a bid of a penny more than £40m.
PFA involvement requires the commitment of both sides to the mediation process and it is unclear whether such willingness exists in this case. Since the PFA represents Manchester City’s James Milner, whose contract issues have been handled with delicacy, Taylor could certainly tell Sterling that a move to a Champions League club offers no guarantees of first-team football. But the union seeks only to get to the source of the dispute in such situations, establish one party’s position on it and put it to the other.
Liverpool’s American owners, Fenway Sports Group, are thought to feel that a point of principle exists about players keeping to their contracts. But their refusal to let Suarez leave was helped by the then 26-year-old’s desire to play, which resulted in his superb final season. Forcing a more immature and emotional Sterling to remain on the sidelines if necessary is a far riskier strategy.
Ward told the Standard he “didn’t care” about the club or its image, dismissed criticism by former players as “irrelevant” and branded Liverpool legend and Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher “a knob”.
He said: “I don’t care about the PR of the club and the club situation. I don’t care. He is definitely not signing. He’s not signing for £700, £800, £900,000 a week. He is not signing. My job is to make sure I do the best with them [my clients]. If people say I am bad at my job, or they are badly advised, it does not matter.”
Taylor clearly feels concern for the player, something the England manager, Roy Hodgson, also expressed yesterday. “I worry for all these young players,” he said. “They become stars very quickly. Their period of potential stardom doesn’t last for very long these days. Sometimes a few games in the Premier League and you are a star. We should never forget we’re dealing with young people. I believe from what I know of Raheem that he’s strong enough to compartmentalise his life – from this side to what happens on the field of play, which is what interests me. But I do sympathise with them.”
[From the Independent]
Keep the little cunt on £35k and let him rot in the reserves.
Another bit from the Mirror:
Raheem Sterling's relationship with Liverpool is at crisis point after another day of explosive drama surrounding his contract talks.
Anfield officials have scrapped a planned meeting to discuss a new deal, after the player’s agent reportedly delivered a wild rant at the club.
Aidy Ward, the representative, is said to have suggested his client would not sign a new deal even for wages of £900,000 a week in an interview where he is also alleged to have called Reds legend Jamie Carragher a kn*b, and said he did not care about Liverpool’s hard-earned image and reputation.
That prompted the Reds’ top brass to pull the plug on a meeting arranged for Friday, as relations between the two parties hit an all-time low.
The club have made clear to Ward, who has recently set up on his own as an agent, they felt there was no purpose in going through with the talks after his astonishing attack.
And Mirror Sport understands officials from Anfield have formally outlined to the player’s representatives his legal obligations - England international Sterling is contracted to the club for another 25 months.
There is a feeling among Liverpool’s top brass that the agent seems to be unaware of his client’s obligations as a contracted player, after apparently indicating to a newspaper Sterling wouldn’t play for the club, and would join Manchester City or Chelsea.
There has been no formal offer for Sterling yet from any club, and he most certainly hasn’t been given permission to speak to another club - which could even bring Ward’s apparent suggestion to the attention of the Football Association.
Sources suggest Ward’s narrow, aggressive agenda for the meeting has been so widely publicised in the last few days it was pointless pursuing a negotiation over the next 24 hours.
The agent had indicated earlier in the week he wouldn’t even listen to any Liverpool offer, and seems to have made damning comments that immediately provoked outrage and anger on social media.
The Evening Standard quoted him as saying: “He is definitely not signing. He’s not signing for £700,000, £800,000, £900,000 a week. He is not signing. I don’t care about the club.
“If people say I am bad at my job or they are badly advised, it does not matter. I am not worried. Worried is making a decision not knowing what is going to happen. Every Premier League club will make a bid for him.”
Liverpool had hoped to make an improved contract offer to Sterling on Friday, and make a strong case to him over staying at Anfield, as manager Brendan Rodgers wants to make him a central figure in future plans.
They have already signed exciting young stars Philippe Coutinho, Jordan Henderson and Daniel Sturridge on long term contracts, and announced on Thursday that potential England stars Jordon Ibe and Jon Flanagan had also put pen to paper.
Winger Ibe – who many believe will prove to be even better than Sterling – has signed a five-year contract that will keep him at Anfield until 2020.
Flanagan has agreed a 12-month extension even though he is out with a long-term knee injury.
Despite this latest breakdown in relations, co-owners John W Henry and Tom Werner have made it absolutely clear that Sterling will not be sold this summer unless there is a massive offer that is too good to turn down.
Just as they did when Luis Suarez attempted to force a move to Arsenal in 2013, they will simply refuse to countenance any dialogue, and are prepared to deliver that message with crystal clarity to Ward.
Raheem Sterling's relationship with Liverpool is at crisis point after another day of explosive drama surrounding his contract talks.
Anfield officials have scrapped a planned meeting to discuss a new deal, after the player’s agent reportedly delivered a wild rant at the club.
Aidy Ward, the representative, is said to have suggested his client would not sign a new deal even for wages of £900,000 a week in an interview where he is also alleged to have called Reds legend Jamie Carragher a kn*b, and said he did not care about Liverpool’s hard-earned image and reputation.
That prompted the Reds’ top brass to pull the plug on a meeting arranged for Friday, as relations between the two parties hit an all-time low.
The club have made clear to Ward, who has recently set up on his own as an agent, they felt there was no purpose in going through with the talks after his astonishing attack.
And Mirror Sport understands officials from Anfield have formally outlined to the player’s representatives his legal obligations - England international Sterling is contracted to the club for another 25 months.
There is a feeling among Liverpool’s top brass that the agent seems to be unaware of his client’s obligations as a contracted player, after apparently indicating to a newspaper Sterling wouldn’t play for the club, and would join Manchester City or Chelsea.
There has been no formal offer for Sterling yet from any club, and he most certainly hasn’t been given permission to speak to another club - which could even bring Ward’s apparent suggestion to the attention of the Football Association.
Sources suggest Ward’s narrow, aggressive agenda for the meeting has been so widely publicised in the last few days it was pointless pursuing a negotiation over the next 24 hours.
The agent had indicated earlier in the week he wouldn’t even listen to any Liverpool offer, and seems to have made damning comments that immediately provoked outrage and anger on social media.
The Evening Standard quoted him as saying: “He is definitely not signing. He’s not signing for £700,000, £800,000, £900,000 a week. He is not signing. I don’t care about the club.
“If people say I am bad at my job or they are badly advised, it does not matter. I am not worried. Worried is making a decision not knowing what is going to happen. Every Premier League club will make a bid for him.”
Liverpool had hoped to make an improved contract offer to Sterling on Friday, and make a strong case to him over staying at Anfield, as manager Brendan Rodgers wants to make him a central figure in future plans.
They have already signed exciting young stars Philippe Coutinho, Jordan Henderson and Daniel Sturridge on long term contracts, and announced on Thursday that potential England stars Jordon Ibe and Jon Flanagan had also put pen to paper.
Winger Ibe – who many believe will prove to be even better than Sterling – has signed a five-year contract that will keep him at Anfield until 2020.
Flanagan has agreed a 12-month extension even though he is out with a long-term knee injury.
Despite this latest breakdown in relations, co-owners John W Henry and Tom Werner have made it absolutely clear that Sterling will not be sold this summer unless there is a massive offer that is too good to turn down.
Just as they did when Luis Suarez attempted to force a move to Arsenal in 2013, they will simply refuse to countenance any dialogue, and are prepared to deliver that message with crystal clarity to Ward.
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