Transfer Talk - Raheem Sterling's future

Sports Mole analyses the clubs being linked with a summer move for Liverpool midfielder Raheem Sterling.

Raheem Sterling added fuel to speculation that he could be heading for the exits at Anfield at the end of the season when he confirmed that he has rejected a £100,000-per-week contract extension with Liverpool.

His revelation has seen a string of clubs linked with a summer move for the England international, who has scored 10 goals for his club so far this season.

Sports Mole looks at the teams being linked with the 20-year-old.

Raheem Sterling of Liverpool celebrates scoring the opening goal during the Barclays Premier League match between Liverpool and West Ham United at Anfield on January 31, 2015© Getty Images


1. Liverpool

As things stand, Sterling is still under contract with Liverpool for the next two seasons, which means that the club would have to be willing to sell the pacey midfielder in order for him to move on at the end of the current campaign.

Manager Brendan Rodgers was asked extensively about Sterling's quotes during his pre-match press conference, insisting that the 20-year-old will not be leaving the club in the summer.

Rodgers and Sterling have both confirmed that contract negotiations will not resume before the end of the season, and with the England international insisting that he is motivated by trophies not money, success in the FA Cup and securing a Champions League place for next season could be crucial if Liverpool want to keep hold of the youngster.


2. Arsenal

Before Sterling's comments about his Liverpool contract became public, the midfielder had already been linked with a move to Arsenal as a potential replacement for Theo Walcott, who is rumoured to be attracting interest from Liverpool.

Liverpool would surely not want to let Sterling join a top-four rival, but it has happened before, most notably with Fernando Torres's £50m move to Chelsea in 2011.

The former QPR youth player admitted that being linked with the Gunners was flattering, but with the Reds reportedly placing a £50m price tag on Sterling, the Gunners might not see it as a good value deal, having secured Alexis Sanchez for almost £20m less last summer.


3. Chelsea

Chelsea are the latest team to be linked with Sterling since he revealed that he has failed to agree a new contract with Liverpool.

According to reports, Jose Mourinho's side are prepared to compete with other Premier League sides in order to bring the 20-year-old to Stamford Bridge, as it has been claimed that the midfielder is particularly keen to move back to London.

Having previously claimed Torres in a big-money deal from the Anfield side, Chelsea are thought to be following Sterling's situation closely, but Mourinho has previously spoken of his respect for the Financial Fair Play laws, so a move to the Blues could rely on someone else departing.


4. Real Madrid

The Spanish side have often been linked with Sterling over the last 12 months, having reportedly prepared a bid for the then-teenager last summer following his impressive performances at the World Cup.

Since then, barely a week has gone by without Carlo Ancelotti's side being linked with a fresh approach for the 20-year-old, who would surely get the chance to satisfy his desire to win trophies with the 10-time European champions.

If Liverpool had to sell the midfielder, sending him to a club in another country, rather than one of their Premier League rivals, would surely be preferable, but how much playing time Sterling would actually get in the La Liga side's talent-laden squad is questionable.


5. Manchester City

The current Premier League champions are one of a number of English sides that have been linked with Sterling, and Manuel Pellegrini did nothing to quell talk that his side could be interested when he refused to deny the rumours at his pre-match press conference.

Last month it was reported that City are monitoring the midfielder's contract situation, and will make a move should the two parties fail to reach a new agreement, viewing Sterling as a replacement for James Milner, who will be a free agent at the end of the season.

With Sterling rejecting a £100,000-per-week salary with Liverpool, City are said to be willing to pay whatever it takes to bring the England international in.

Furthermore, the club's hierarchy have placed an importance on silverware in recent years, with Roberto Mancini losing his job in 2013 despite the team reaching the FA Cup final and finishing second in the league, so a move to the Etihad would give Sterling a good chance to fulfil his desire to lift trophies.

Brendan Rodgers and Raheem Sterling on February 26, 2015
Read Next:
Report: Liverpool demand £50m for Sterling
>
Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
CLeicester CityLeicester362211364343077
2Tottenham HotspurSpurs361913467283970
3Arsenal361910759342567
4Manchester CityMan City361971068383064
5Manchester UnitedMan Utd35179943311260
6West Ham UnitedWest Ham351514660431759
7Southampton361691153391457
8Liverpool3515101059481155
9Chelsea351212115548748
10Stoke CityStoke36139143852-1448
11Everton351014115549644
12Watford35128153642-644
13Swansea CitySwansea361110153750-1343
14West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom361011153246-1441
15Bournemouth36118174363-2041
16Crystal Palace36109173646-1039
17Newcastle UnitedNewcastle3689193964-2533
18Sunderland35711174058-1832
19Norwich CityNorwich3587203561-2631
RAston Villa3637262772-4516