LIVERPOOL MANAGER BRENDAN Rodgers has told Raheem Sterling he should accept the club’s “incredible” contract offer for the good of his career.
Sterling has yet to sign a new deal with the Reds despite lengthy negotiations and Rodgers revealed on Monday that the 20-year-old had received an offer of significantly improved wages around one month ago.
The England international has been linked with a move to Real Madrid and several other European heavyweights are also said to be interested in his signature.
But Rodgers insists Liverpool have been more than generous with their offer, especially since he believes Anfield is the perfect environment for the youngster to continue his meteoric rise since joining from QPR in 2010.
“The club has offered an incredible deal for a young player and I have spoken to Raheem a number of times and he is very happy here and I think you see that in his game,” Rodgers said.
“He has made some great strides in these last couple of years and has now got reward for that and hopefully his representatives can find agreement with the club.
What he has been granted here is an opportunity – we see it with lots of young players – and they get rewarded for that but we are certainly not a club who are going to give out way, way above what a player is worth at a certain time in a career.
“It is not a case of giving any player, I’m not talking about Raheem here I’m talking in general, what they want.
“We want to reward our best talents as they are a big part of our future and we are confident that will all be in hand and sorted very soon.”
Rodgers has nurtured Sterling through a difficult period off the pitch over the last couple of years, when he found himself embroiled in a couple of court cases, and has been rewarded with some impressive performances from the youngster.
However, he has been keen to keep the England international grounded and he wants to ensure he and other Liverpool rookies do not get distracted by the trappings of fame and fortune.
“It is very important for young players, not just Raheem, that they have something to strive for,” he added.
If they get too much, too young then it really sabotages their development.
“That is why we communicate with the player and their advisers – if they have advisers.
“If they are given sound advice they will see that. It is about mapping out the career of a player, it is not just about this deal.
“In Raheem’s case we believe this will be the best place for him and I believe he knows that as well.”
