Exclusive: ‘Sterling is right to wait over new contract – but Liverpool is the PERFECT place for him’
Raheem Sterling is RIGHT to take his time over a new deal at Liverpool, claims former England midfielder Ray Wilkins - but he should remain at Anfield because it’s the perfect place to continue his blossoming career.
The Reds are currently working hard to tie the Three Lions star, 20, down to a new contract but are finding it tricky to bring talks to a conclusion, with the player reportedly turning down a £180,000 a week deal, with Arsenal apparently targeting him.
It’s believed Sterling, who has two years left on his current deal, is concerned by manager Brendan Rodgers’ decision to play him at wing-back in recent weeks but, despite this, Wilkins feels the player should - when the deal is right for him - put pen to paper and extend his stay on Merseyside.
“Raheem Sterling is not breaking any contract and it’s his right to wait until the end of the season,” Wilkins told the Alan Brazil Sports Breakfast.
“He should keep his options open, there’s no two ways about it. His talent is Champions League level and I know he’s playing wing-back at the moment for Liverpool and that doesn’t suit him at all.
“In this period of Raheem’s education, as far as football is concerned, Liverpool is the perfect place for him to be.
“Brendan is a fantastic manager. He loves young guys and he gives them a game. That’s the important thing. If you move to one of these big teams like Real Madrid or Barcelona, do you play?
“[The delay] can’t be for finance, he’s only a young man. They’ve offered him a very good contract and he should stay. Perhaps the longevity of the contract might be the stumbling block. They might want to keep him for six or seven years and he might only want a couple of years and see where he goes from there.”