Liverpool prospect Raheem Sterling was yesterday linked with a move to QPR. Here’s why he must stay at Anfield.
As young wingers go, it is difficult to think of any more highly rated 17-year-olds in world football than Raheem Sterling. And that comes with a considerable amount of pressure.
Pressure and expectation is the price of having an opportunity at a club such as Liverpool, and if Sterling can adapt to it and thrive on it early in his career, then later on it should be no problem either.
Chances last season for him were understandably few and far between, making three substitute appearances in the league, amounting to a total of 25 minutes of first team football.
Other than that, Kenny Dalglish failed to relent to calls to give the prospect a chance, despite the poor form of the club’s senior wide men.
Now with a new manager in tow in Brendan Rodgers, the future of Liverpool is taking a new shape. How it will turn out is at this point unknown, but early comments from players is that they are enjoying life under their new boss.
Raheem Sterling would surely want to be around the club right now, not moving on.
Rodgers himself has not commented on whether Sterling will be kept on next season or not, and is simply giving him opportunities to impress in pre-season right now. It is good news that he is in his thoughts.
Brendan Rodgers is one of the most revered young bosses in European football right now, and has a track record of working with young players at Chelsea.
Liverpool is exactly the place for Sterling to be, not sent out on loan at a critical stage of his development.
While it is common for Premier League clubs to loan out their youngsters to another, it is rare for players of just 17 to be loaned out.
Liverpool should keep a protective eye over Sterling, who is already a dad to two different girls, rather than sending him ‘back home’ to the temptations of London, as one Liverpool fan put it yesterday.
He was linked with a move away to Spurs back in April, and Liverpool need to concentrate on keeping one of their brightest talents on board, rather than sending him away and letting his head be turned.
Most importantly, there could be chances for him next season. He has featured in pre-season, impressing along with young striker Adam Morgan, seven months his senior.
Liverpool have not signed any wingers this summer, and with Stewart Downing unimpressive last season, the Reds are short on options on the flanks.
They have the Europa League to add to their fixture list, and Tottenham last season used it to hand experience to many youngsters including England under-19 forward Harry Kane.
Sterling will get his opportunities if he stays, and will also still be available to play for Liverpool’s NextGen squad again as they strive to improve on last season’s third place finish.
It all adds up to the simple fact that Liverpool must keep their brightest talent on board right now. There may be opportunities for loans in the future, but when you have a player as gifted as Sterling you want to keep him at the club full stop, not send him to play for someone else.
Do you agree? Or do you feel Sterling would benefit from a loan away?
image: © kong niffe
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