Sell Sterling — and move on

It should now move into a hard-headed, non-emotive and controlled business negotiation. Not as to whether Raheem Sterling should stay at Liverpool or sign a new contract, but as to what price can be achieved for him when he is put up for sale this summer.

Selling Sterling will ultimately be a sign of strength, not one of weakness, from Liverpool — as long as they do it on their terms. As the famous sign says: This is Anfield.

But that agreement should come with one key caveat: The price has to be right.

Sterling and his agent, Aidy Ward, have spent months trying to force the issue, trying to position themselves as simply ambitious and not avaricious. But it does not really matter, does it? It is not really about the PR battle even if countless transfers have been dressed up in the past to conceal the truth.

If Sterling does not want to stay at Liverpool, then fair enough. His agent has pointed out that he is not from Liverpool — as if anyone needed to be told that and as if it was relevant, anyway. We know there are no emotional ties. We also know that Liverpool poached Sterling from Queens Park Rangers.

It is understandable why Liverpool have cancelled the meeting scheduled to take place yesterday between Ian Ayre, the chief executive and Ward, in light of the agent’s hostile comments in the London Evening Standard newspaper.

So, good on Liverpool for now trying to take control of the agenda.

But the two sides do have to eventually meet. When that happens, Sterling needs to do two things: Firstly, apologise for some of the intemperate language that has been used by his agent and, secondly, produce a written transfer request.

Sterling has two years left on his contract which pays him around £35,000-a-week (S$72,800) and he has said it is not about the money — so hold him to that.

A transfer request will help forego any loyalty bonuses or contractual payments Sterling is due and will help make the saga more formal. It is not about the semantics of the situation and it should encourage bids.

The presumption is that Ayre will remind Ward of the term still left on his client’s present deal and reiterate the intention of Fenway Sports Group that Sterling is not for sale. But that should be a negotiating position. Ayre will presumably also try to talk numbers — the new long-term contract that Liverpool want Sterling to sign. But he should not bother.

Liverpool will also stress the importance of Sterling to them and how they can be good for him and how they all share the same ambitions. But they should not bother with that either. Instead, Ayre should accept the transfer request and inform Ward of Liverpool’s valuation for Sterling which appears to hover close to the £50 million mark. If any club meets that or gets close, then Ayre should say that Sterling can go. If they do not, then he stays.

As a further stipulation, Liverpool should set a deadline of their choosing as to when a deal has to be struck. They need to give themselves time to use the Sterling money to help improve their team.

For years, the club has failed to show enough ambition and they are counting the cost. Liverpool have successively lost their best players over the past few years so surely, the argument goes, they need to draw a line in the sand, dig in their heels, and take a stand?

No. They should take the cash and they should move on. They should back themselves.

It is not Sterling’s fault. It is not Liverpool’s fault. If he wants to go, then let him go. But, for Liverpool’s sake, they should do it on their own terms and only when the price is met. That is what a big club does.

Sterling also has to play fair. He could start by putting in that transfer request. THE DAILY TELEGRAPH

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Jason Burt is deputy football correspondent at The Daily Telegraph.