Liverpool Under Pressure To Retain Rising Superstar Raheem Sterling

Liverpool’s Raheem Sterling is starting to attract interest from at least two big clubs in Europe. Following reports a few weeks ago that Real Madrid is looking to lure the 19-year-old Sterling to the Bernabeu, Paris Saint-Germain have also recently joined the chase for the talented youngster. The French giants are even willing to triple Sterling’s current wages to bring him to the Parisian club. Sterling’s current contract at Liverpool, which runs out in 2017, is reportedly worth around $48,000-a-week.

While other major clubs are certainly interested in signing Sterling, Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers remains calm and is optimistic in keeping the highly-rated England international. Rodgers recently stated, “It’s not a big issue for us. Ian Ayre (Liverpool’s chief executive) has spoken with his (Sterling’s) representatives and he is quite relaxed. The club is dealing with the agent so everything is calm and the boy is remarkably happy here and there are no secondary thoughts about anything else other than continuing to play for Liverpool.”

When asked if he thought that Sterling wants to remain a Liverpool player, Rodgers said, “Yes. Absolutely adamant. His agent is a good agent and he understands this is the perfect place for him.” Although Rodgers remains calm (what else is he supposed to do or say in that situation?), the 41-year-old manager must do whatever it takes to keep the budding superstar in Merseyside.

Having already lost superstar Luis Suarez to Barcelona over the summer, the Reds desperately need to hold on to Sterling and build around the 19-year-old. Rodgers has already reinvested the Suarez money back into the squad (and then some), but despite Sterling’s outstanding play during the campaign, this season’s Liverpool team hasn’t quite jelled yet.

Sterling made his Liverpool debut in March of 2012, aged just 17 (becoming the second-youngest player in Liverpool’s esteemed history), and has quickly progressed during the two-and-a-half years since his senior level unveiling.

Coming off of a 2013-14 season in which he scored nine Premier League goals and won Liverpool’s Young Player of the Year Award, the pacey midfielder/winger has already collected three goals and two assists in just six Premier League starts this season. Not only has Sterling been one of Liverpool’s best players over the last year or so (and an argument could be made that he is the team’s top player at the moment), the 19-year-old is also vital to the England national team.

With Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard recently retiring from international soccer, the England squad will need a player or two to step up and create and score goals much like the Gerrard and Lampard duo did for so long. Sterling definitely has the talent to help push England forward, but will he remain in a Liverpool kit?