Analysis: How Liverpool Bungled the Raheem Sterling Contract Saga

The Raheem Sterling contract saga took another twist this week. However if Liverpool had acted correctly, this whole drama could have avoided, writes Marcus Raymond.

So it has come to this. After months of back and forth, claims, counterclaims, a lot of outrage from former players and a very weird BBC interview, it appears Raheem Sterling is now unlikely to sign a new contract with Liverpool and will instead start to look elsewhere to further his burgeoning football career.

Of course, coming to any definitive conclusions before the ink has dried on a contract either at Liverpool or somewhere else is a bold move given the twists and turns this saga (to evoke that annoying little word) have already experienced. However, that seems by far the most likely conclusion, whether it occurs this summer or next – a point that was emphasised by recent quotes made by the player’s agent, who said he won’t sign even if Liverpool offer £900,000 per week.

Sterling’s decision making (or at least the decisions made by him and a whole team of representatives) and conduct has been widely criticised in the media, with many ex-players leading the charge to condemn the youngster as a money grabbing, trophy chasing, arrogant, self-indulged, kid who doesn’t realise how goddamn lucky he is to have the esteemed privilege of playing for Liverpool and should, as Jamie Carragher eloquently put it, “keep your mouth shut get on with playing football”.

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In the minds of Sterling’s detractors, he should realise that Liverpool represent the best team he is currently able to start regularly in, as well as the best environment available in which he can grow and improve as a player. In addition, given that Liverpool, and more importantly on a practical level Brendan Rodgers, gave the wonder-kid his debut, he should re-sign from the situation out of a sense of loyalty to the club. Both points, particularly the first one, are decent arguments; however, they ignore the most basic point in all of this: if Liverpool had simply sorted this out behind closed doors at any point in the last 12-15 months, no one would be having these conversations.

Both points, particularly the first one, are decent arguments; however, they ignore the most basic point in all of this: if Liverpool had simply sorted this out behind closed doors at any point in the last 12-15 months, no one would be having these conversations.

Sterling signed his last contract extension, which runs until the summer of 2017, in late December 2012, a deal worth £35,000 per week. Given his mixture of erratic form and obvious promise that season, that number seemed more or less in line with where Sterling was, even at just 18 years-old. The following season though, Sterling was, bar Suarez, one of Liverpool’s most important, if not the most important, player, proving to be a key force in their push for the title over the second half of the season. At some point in that run, Liverpool’s hierarchy should have used the positive momentum and goodwill to get Sterling locked up to a £100,000, 5-year extension that would have made this entire issue go away.

Of course, there’s no definitive proof that they didn’t have that offer on the table this time last year (i.e. before the World Cup), however, I think it’s pretty reasonable to assume it wasn’t. The fact that they didn’t get Sterling signed to a contract that could potentially run until 2019 when things were going well meant that coming into this season he had just two years left on the extension he signed in 2012. That may still seem like a long enough time to get a deal done without any fuss but, truth be told, it seriously compromises a club’s leverage in negotiations.

In addition, Liverpool’s management, including Chairman Tom Werner and Brendan Rodgers, have stated publically on multiple occasions this season (dating back as early as October) that they expect Sterling to re-sign and that he the best thing for him would be to remain at the club. They have stated on multiple occasions that they feel a deal is close to completion, hinting that the only thing holding it up was Sterling and his representatives; thereby trying to pressurise them into going through with the deal. That’s a pretty high-risk strategy, and one that has clearly blown up in Liverpool’s face, souring relations and leading to the situation as it stands today, with Sterling privately asking to leave the club.

Sterling and his team are hardly blameless in this themselves, and the they’re handling of PR has been baffling to say the least, highlighted by an awkward BBC interview in which Sterling claimed to not be a money grabbing kid; all the while coming off as exactly that, which seems to have turned the fans against him to some degree as well. However, if he or his management don’t feel Liverpool have treated him fairly or have offered him considerably less than what he could potentially receive elsewhere – both of which seem true as someone on the outside looking in on the situation – then he is well within his rights to seek a higher wage and better working conditions (i.e. Champions League football) elsewhere, just like anyone in any line of work is.

Another frankly baffling narrative pedalled by those who that demand Sterling stay at Liverpool is that he simply isn’t good enough for a move to one of the clubs that currently reside in the top four. Sure, he wouldn’t waltz into Chelsea or Manchester City’s dressing room, and displace Hazard or Silva after the first training session, but he is, by any measure, as gifted and as hardworking a player. While he may not be a superstar on the level of some players just yet, he is well on his way to attaining that status at an extremely young age, and would be a welcome addition to any squad in the Premier League.

Is he, for example, better than Cuadrado or Navas? I think so. In a couple of years’ time, is it plausible, regardless of where he’s playing, that he will be better than Willian or Nasri? Again, probably yes.

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The way Liverpool, pundits, fans and the media alike have reacted to this story isn’t surprising, but it is disappointing. While demanding the player respect both the history of the club, and his elders, both of which have literally nothing to do with these negotiations, they have seemingly done the exact opposite, in some ways turning Sterling against the club, and convincing him he would be best served by moving away. The real loser here is Liverpool, who, despite what people are now trying to claim retrospectively, seem likely to lose one of the best and most promising young players in world football, that is, while Sterling’s upward trajectory has shown little sign of slowing.

Liverpool failed to make an offer when things were going well, and when things started going badly, they were the first side to try and use the media to force a deal. Sterling will, regardless of where he signs his next deal, make his money, and will almost certainly have a long and prosperous career, despite what people may have you believe.