Liverpool transfer news: Raheem Sterling stalemate as club insist young star is not for sale

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Andrew Feinberg

White House Correspondent

Liverpool remain adamant they will not sell Raheem Sterling this summer, despite the player’s determination to leave with two years of his contract remaining and his refusal to sign any extension to that deal.

The stand-off between the club and the player and his representatives is not expected to be resolved when the two parties meet on Friday, when Ian Ayre, the Liverpool chief executive, is anticipated to outline the club’s determination to keep Sterling. Manager Brendan Rodgers, with the backing of owner John W Henry and the Fenway Sports Group, has maintained all season that Sterling will not be sold and the club’s stance has not changed.

There was a mixed reaction towards 20-year-old Sterling when he appeared at the club’s end-of-season awards evening. He was voted young player of the year at a ceremony held at the Echo Arena, with around 2,000 fans in attendance. The announcement of his award was greeted with some booing, as well as applause. His acceptance speech was interrupted with a shout of “Stay Raheem”, followed by booing.

There is strong interest in Sterling from Manchester City, but were Liverpool to start listening to offers for a player rated at around £30m, there would also be competition from Chelsea and Arsenal, as well as from Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Juventus. The forthcoming relaxation of the Uefa financial fair play rules means that there would be little doubt about clubs being able to afford him and Liverpool would benefit from a competitive bidding war.

Nevertheless, the club are expected to reiterate their stance that Sterling is not for sale. Whether that could change over the summer is debatable, but for now the club are planning on having Sterling on their pre-season tour of Australia and Malaysia in late July.

The club would not lose him for nothing when his contract expires in 2017 as they would be entitled to a compensation payment.