Raheem Sterling is "on the verge of becoming the most expensive English footballer" after Man City put together a £100M ($155M) package that will take the winger to the Etihad Stadium from Liverpool for a club record £49M ($76M) fee, according to Tony Barrett of the LONDON TIMES. With a five-year contract worth about £200,000 ($310,000) per week on the table for Sterling that is believed to have been agreed in principle already, Man City's "long-awaited breakthrough" in its summer-long pursuit of the England int'l came Monday when Liverpool accepted its fourth offer to "sign him having rejected three previous bids." Although Liverpool had insisted that Sterling would only be sold if its £50M valuation was matched, Man City's "willingness" to go within £1M ($1.5M) of the asking price "allowed them to clinch the deal." Sterling will overtake Andy Carroll, a £35M signing for Liverpool from Newcastle United in Jan. '11, as football’s "most expensive Englishman." Only 10 players in world football will have cost more than the £49M fee that Man City has agreed with Liverpool for Sterling. Man City's previous record signing was Carlos Tévez, who was recruited from ManU at a cost of £47M in a deal that was completed six years ago this week. Liverpool's acceptance of Man City's latest offer, £44M ($68.2M) guaranteed with a further £5M ($7.7M) in performance-related incentives to follow, "marks the beginning of the end of the most acrimonious transfer saga of the summer," one that brought Sterling and representative Aidy Ward into direct conflict with his club (LONDON TIMES, 7/13).
'VERY SIMPLE': REUTERS' Linden & Hann reported speaking at a news conference in Thailand, where Liverpool is kicking off its preseason tour of Asia and Australia, Liverpool Manager Brendan Rodgers did not "provide any specific details on the winger's transfer but confirmed that an agreement had been reached." Rodgers said, "The situation is very simple. The club has agreed with another for a deal for Raheem to be transferred and subject to medical that will go through. Contrary to the last week or so, in terms of what was written, Raheem and I have always remained very strong in our relationship, and have been up until he left. There's no issue there." Sterling's relationship with Liverpool "hit troubled waters in April when he denied being a 'money-grabber' in an interview with the BBC, claiming he was motivated purely by ambition." Ward also "angered the club and its supporters in May by saying the England winger would not sign a new deal at Anfield" -- even for £900,000 a week (REUTERS, 7/13). The BBC reported several former Liverpool players have "criticised" Sterling since he told Rodgers and CEO Ian Ayre that he "wanted to leave the club this summer." Former captain Steven Gerrard said that he was "disappointed" in the England int'l. Gerrard said, "You don't have to throw in illness, or refuse to go on tour. The fans have shown him great support, they want him to stay and I believe that he should too" (BBC, 7/13).
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| Source: BBC |
