There were all kinds of talking points when Liverpool returned to pre-season training on Monday with Sean O’Driscoll being appointed boss Brendan Rodgers new assistant manager and all kinds of new faces popping up at Melwood, but want-away winger Raheem Sterling remains the one real topic that no one wants to talk about.
The highly rated 21-year, who is now expected to join the Reds on their upcoming tour of Australia, the Far East and Finland, reportedly remains adament that he won’t sign a new deal to keep him on Merseyside any longer than his current deal allows. Despite already rejecting two big money bids from Manchester City, he’ll almost certaintly be moving to the Etihad Stadium once the Citizens decide to meet the insane amount of money that the Anfield outfit is looking to bring in for a player that ex-England man Rodney Marsh has described as a “festering boil”.
“If I was Liverpool, I’d get shot as soon as possible because it is like a festering boil, it goes on and on and on,” Marsh, who made over 100-appearances for City, told The Sports Bar on talkSPORT. “The longer it goes on, the more you are left at the end of it bitter and resentful.”
The cat and mouse game between the two clubs might not last that much longer with boss Manuel Pellegrini rumoured to be ready to table a fresh bid that is much closer to the £50mil that Liverpool are holding out for. Despite wanting the deal done before they embark on their own pre-season festivities, where they’ll face the likes of Italian side AS Roma and fellow billionaire extraordinaires in Spanish juggernauts Real Madrid, the Chilean manager reportedly remains open to the 21-year old joining up with them at any stage of the tour with his integration into the squad before the season kicks off of the utmost importance.
