Marcel Desailly thinks Raheem Sterling wants to win

Marcel Desailly believes Raheem Sterling could be motivated to leave Liverpool so he does not miss out on a Premier League winner’s medal like Steven Gerrard.

Sterling is expected to tell Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers that he does not want to sign a new deal at Anfield when contract talks resume this week.

The 20-year-old has two years left on his current deal and reports suggest he has already turned down an improved contract offer worth £100,000 a week.

However, World Cup winner Desailly says there is enough money in the game and thinks that Sterling could be motivated to move clubs to win the Premier League title which eluded Liverpool legend Gerrard.

He said: “He must have his own reason. As for money, in football there is money because we are dealing with talent, you cannot quantify, it will never stop, it will always go higher and higher.

“You see the TV rights that we have now for the Premier League and for the players it will follow up, the sponsorship is coming in. He must have a personal reason to have the desire to go higher. Everyone is playing for their own situation.

“He feels that to grow he needs to go to a different club. He feels that where he is, even if it is at big Liverpool, he’ll end up being like Gerrard after 10 years not winning the Premier League, then it is his own feeling. We should find out what the main reason was for him.”

Former Chelsea captain Desailly also believes it is time for Petr Cech to leave Stamford Bridge unless he wants to spend the majority of next season on the bench.

He said: “It is obvious – he needs to leave. He has only two more years left of playing football, he needs to go and enjoy it if he is someone who is motivated to play, unless he wants to sit and play 10 games in the year and grab his money.”

Desailly also claimed that Blues fans will probably have to get used to the sight of Cech turning out for one of the club’s Premier League rivals with the goalkeeper being linked with moves to both Arsenal and Manchester United.

He added: “You have to accept that idea. In the course of the season it is not good but from the beginning of the season you have to accept that he will face Chelsea in the future.

“He’s not scoring goals and he’s not a striker - he’s a goalkeeper. You have to allow the room of risk for Petr Cech because he has given quite a lot for Chelsea and it is time to go now.”

Sky Sports has teamed up with Barclays to offer you the chance to win a pair of tickets to see Chelsea lift the Barclays Premier League trophy on Sunday. To win tickets to Chelsea v Sunderland, head to http://ift.tt/1cMXjw5

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Manchester City hot favourites to sign Liverpool's Raheem Sterling

Where will Raheem Sterling be playing his football next season?

Liverpool forward Sterling is being linked with a summer transfer away from Liverpool – and Sky Bet make the England man a 2/1 shot to be at the club on September 3.

Sterling is set to resume contract talks with Liverpool later this week but intends to tell them he does not plan to sign a new deal, according to Sky Sources.

Here, we take a look at how the betting markets are taking shape on the subject of Sterling’s next club.

Manchester City - 5/6 with Sky Bet to sign for before 3rd September 2015

With FA chairman Greg Dyke wanting to introduce tougher rules to improve opportunities for home-grown players, Manchester City are reportedly looking to strengthen their squad this summer with players that would tick that requirement.  

A big rebuilding job is on the cards at City. 

When they were knocked out of the Champions League by Barcelona, the average age of their squad was 29.7 and the futures of some of the more experienced heads like Yaya Toure and James Milner are in doubt.

They need to freshen up the squad and bringing in a player who Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers called “the best young player in Europe” would make perfect sense, especially with the financial clout they possess.

Arsenal – 5/1 with Sky Bet

A move back to London reportedly is a big factor in Sterling’s desire to leave Liverpool and he would fit seamlessly into Arsenal’s free-flowing style of attacking football.

However, with the abundance of attacking talent at the disposal of Arsene Wenger it would be hard to guarantee the Liverpool man a regular first-team spot unless they free up space in the squad. Paul Merson has mooted that an exchange plus cash deal for Sterling with Theo Walcott going the other way would be the “deal of the century for Liverpool.”

Wenger has refused to be drawn on speculation that the club are interested in signing him but is a keen admirer of his talents.

Wenger said: "Raheem Sterling is a top player, everybody in the country knows that now. He is a very important player for Liverpool of course.”

Chelsea – 5/1 with Sky Bet

Jose Mourinho is a master at maintaining his squad and if he feels a player is available that would move his team forward, he isn’t afraid to make swift changes in his squad. One of the areas they are lacking is pace in forward areas.

At the exception of Eden Hazard and Willian, the Chelsea midfield do struggle to stretch a game by getting in behind defences and the addition of the lightning quick Sterling would add another dimension to their already ruthless attacking artillery.

Manchester United – 10/1 with Sky Bet

Big things are expected once again this transfer window from Louis van Gaal as he has a reported purse of £150m to spend. He’s already got to work in bringing in some exciting young talent by snapping up the services of Memphis Depay from PSV for a fee believed to be in the region of £25m.

However, odds of 10/1 probably underrepresent the likelihood of Liverpool shipping Sterling out to one of their fiercest rivals. Phill Chisnall was transferred from Manchester United to Liverpool in 1964 but since then, not a single player has been directly transferred from one club to the other.

Bayern Munich – 10/1 Sky Bet

The Bundesliga champions were linked with Sterling back in December and they have since lost flying wingers Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery to injuries, which contributed to their Champions League semi-final exit.

Pep Guardiola's reputation, particularly the way he coached Lionel Messi at Barcelona, would be a huge attraction but Sterling’s drop in form over the last six months may put Bayern off paying a huge transfer fee.

Sky Sports pundit Phil Thompson is certainly of the opinion that Sterling’s performances haven’t merited a big-money move.

Thompson told Sky Sports: “Raheem Sterling is a good player; he’s not a great player. He’s done alright. He’s not the superstar he perceives himself to be. He’s still got a lot of learning to do and he’s at the right club to do that.”

Real Madrid – 16/1 Sky Bet

According to the Spanish media, Real are plotting a new ‘Galactico project’ which could include the signing of three high-profile players this summer and Sterling would like to think he’d be on their radar. The Madrid club are not immune to putting their faith in youth as shown by their signing of 16-year-old Martin Odegaard in January.

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Swansea chairman Huw Jenkins says agents are in control

Swansea Chairman Huw Jenkins

Swansea City chairman Huw Jenkins says Liverpool must deal with the Raheem Sterling contract saga 'in the right way'.

According to Sky sources, Sterling is set to resume contract talks with Liverpool on Friday but intends to tell them he does not plan to sign a new deal.

And Jenkins told Sky Sports News HQ on Tuesday that he believes it is the agents who are in control and that all clubs - even those at the highest level - are subject to their power.

“I think things have changed and with the freedom of contracts and clubs trying to maximise transfer values, players do have that right to let their contracts run down,” Jenkins said.

“With one or two years to go, clubs are trying to deal with the situation earlier to try and get a transfer fee back in.

“But if clubs like Liverpool have got that continued problem, at the level they are at, it does exist in the game and we’ve all got to face that challenge and deal with things the right way.

“Making those decisions accordingly, which will be right for each individual club.”

Swansea manager Gary Monk is currently undergoing contract talks with the club and has told Sky Sports he would relish an extended stay and is "dreaming big". 

Swansea have achieved a record-high finish in the Premier League in eighth position this season, although they suffered a 4-2 lost against Manchester City last Sunday.

They face Crystal Palace this Sunday in their final game of the 2014/15 season.

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Phil Thompson believes Raheem Sterling will regret leaving Liverpool

Phil Thompson believes Raheem Sterling has been planning his Liverpool exit for some time and suspects a deal with another club is already in place.

Sky sources revealed on Monday that Sterling and his representatives intend to tell Liverpool he does not plan to sign a new deal when contract talks resume on Friday.

But former Anfield captain Thompson says if Sterling goes he will be doing so at the wrong time and for the wrong reasons, adding the 20-year-old has 'far too high an opinion of himself'.

“I have always thought it was coming this way from when he first made his comments that he wanted to leave things until the end of the season until he makes his decision,” Thompson told Sky Sports News HQ.

“As soon as he started saying those things, you know what is going on. In the background, I would probably think a deal has been done with someone.

“Raheem Sterling is a good player. He is not a great player. He has done well for Liverpool but he is not the superstar that he perceives himself to be. He has still got a lot of learning to do and he is at the right club to do it.”

One theory for Sterling’s desire to move elsewhere is that Liverpool, who will finish outside the top four this season, are not in a position to compete for trophies and the England international would stand a better chance of winning silverware elsewhere.

Thompson, however, believes Sterling is motivated by money and he thinks the player’s development will be limited if he is not afforded regular playing time at another club.

'Greed'

“For the money he is asking for – £100,000 – I don’t even think he is actually worth that so for him to be asking for £150,000 is basically greed,” Thompson said.

“Whether he will get the money he wants, I am not quite sure. But I think in these last six months, his mind has been made up through his advisors that the best thing to do is seek the next step of his career elsewhere.

“If this was Luis Suarez, I’d be saying give him what he wants and players like that deserve it. This boy is 20 years of age. He is learning his trade still. I think he was being offered an extremely good deal if what we are being told about £100,000-a-week offer was true.

“He would be at a club where he could probably guarantee playing football every week which is going to be vastly important to him. Going to another club, I don’t think there is any guarantee of that at the moment.

“I think Champions League, Europa League has nothing to do with this. It’s all money driven.”

In the wake of Suarez’s exit last summer, it would be a big blow for Liverpool to lose another key player so soon afterwards and Thompson admitted he is concerned about the message those departures send to other players.

“That is a worry and I cannot sit here and say it is not,” Thompson said. “It certainly is. You have got the likes of Raheem who is a London boy with no great ties to my football club so that has got a bit to do with it.

“But yes you worry that the players are going to be coming in, we can nurture them, they come through the academies and then if they see fit, they see their next step at a bigger club with the potential of winning a bit more.”

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Swansea Chairman Huw Jenkins says agents are in control

Swansea Chairman Huw Jenkins

Swansea City Chairman Huw Jenkins thinks Liverpool have to “deal with things the right way” regarding Raheem Sterling's future.

According Sky sources, Sterling is set to resume contract talks with Liverpool on Friday but intends to tell them he does not plan to sign a new deal.

And Jenkins told Sky Sports News HQ on Tuesday that he believes is it the agents who are in control and that all clubs - even those at the highest level - are subject to their power.

“I think things have changed and with the freedom of contracts and clubs trying to maximise transfer values, players do have that right to let their contracts run down,” Jenkins said.

“With one or two years to go, clubs are trying to deal with the situation earlier to try and get a transfer fee back in.

“But if clubs like Liverpool have got that continued problem, at the level they are at, it does exist in the game and we’ve all got to face that challenge and deal with things the right way.

“Making those decisions accordingly, which will be right for each individual club.”

Swansea manager Gary Monk is currently undergoing contract talks with the club and has told Sky Sports he would relish an extended stay and is "dreaming big". 

Swansea have achieved a record-high finish in the Premier League in 8th position this season, although they suffered a 4-2 lost against Manchester City last Sunday.

They face Crystal Palace this Sunday in their last game of the 2014/15 season.

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Raheem Sterling should stay at Liverpool and focus on winning trophies, says Jamie Carragher

Jamie Carragher: Raheem Sterling should stay at Liverpool

Jamie Carragher thinks Raheem Sterling should stop taking Liverpool on and focus on his football to bring trophies to Anfield.

According to Sky sources, Sterling is set to resume contract talks with Liverpool later this week but intends to tell them he does not plan to sign a new deal.

Speaking on Monday Night Football, Sky Sports pundit Carragher slammed the England international's agent before telling Sterling to let his football do the talking at the highest level.

"For a 20-year-old kid and his agent to be taking on the club, there's nothing worse than that," Carragher said.

"Forget his performances and forget how much money he wants, you just keep your mouth shut and get on with playing football.

"He'll move on in years to come but how will he be thought of for the rest of his career? You've got to think about how you will be thought of, as well as just your ability. And it's about time his agent stopped leaking stories, never mind the football club leaking stories.

"He doesn't need to move clubs in my opinion," he added. "For his football development, he needs to stay at Liverpool. He plays every week."

The former Liverpool defender went on to question the 20-year-old's performances in big games this season, including the club's FA Cup semi-final defeat to Aston Villa last month.

"The way it will come out will be that it's not about money," Carragher said. "It may not be about money. It could be about trophies or playing in the Champions League.

"If it's about trophies, last season Liverpool were that close to winning the league and he was fantastic. Now they're not close this year and they're not going to be close next year, if I'm totally honest but Liverpool had a chance of a trophy this year in the semi-final of the FA Cup against Aston Villa. Where was Raheem Sterling?

"If you want to win trophies and you want big money - which is what he wants - they don't get given to you. You've got to earn them and you've got to play well in big games.

"What did Liverpool do in the Champions League this season? Nothing. What did Raheem Sterling do? Nothing. The semi-final performance against Aston Villa was one of the worst you'll see from a Liverpool team in a big game.

"I played in teams that maybe did not have as much talent as they showed last year but we got over the line somehow by fighting and getting through it.

"Where was he in the semi-final? You want to win trophies, you've got to perform at the highest level for Liverpool or a huge club. The semi-final was the biggest game this season for Liverpool and not just him, but the whole team was found wanting.

"But if he wants to win trophies, he's got to deliver in big games and he hasn't done that yet."

Sky sources understand Sterling feels the club have tried to bully him into signing a new contract - and that he does not think they have protected him from negative headlines.

But an angry Carragher has called into question Sterling's agent, claiming the player should change who represents him.

He said: "Talking of leaks from the club, this started with the agent at the very start of the season. I know there are things getting fed to the press about Raheem Sterling trying to put pressure on Liverpool to do a deal with him or sell him, whatever way you want to look at it.

"I know Raheem Sterling. I've played with him. He's a great kid. I'm not just saying that now. I saw him at the weekend and shook his hand and said hello to him. He’s not some flash young kid and I hope people at home don't get the wrong impression of him.

"If there's one thing he needs to change, it's his agent. The thing I don't like about it is Raheem's still a kid. For a 20-year-old kid to be taking on Liverpool Football Club over a contract, it just winds me up and angers me to the pit of my stomach.

"Raheem Sterling will obviously move on at some stage. He doesn't want to be at the club. Brendan Rodgers has come out and said he won't be going this summer. He's still got two years left. There's still one game to go, why not leave this until after that? But it looks like a tactic to me, to force the club's hand.

"The lad's from London. He obviously wants to go back home to London but I still can't get that picture out of my head of a young kid trying to take the club on."

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Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger refuses to rule out Raheem Sterling bid

Arsene Wenger: Will he look to add Raheem Sterling to Arsenal's ranks?

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has refused to rule out a blockbuster summer move for unsettled Liverpool midfielder Raheem Sterling.

Sky sources revealed on Monday that Sterling and his representatives intend to tell Liverpool he does not plan to sign a new deal at the club when contract talks resume later this week.

Arsenal and Manchester City have been linked with bids for the 20-year-old and an unusually coy Wenger refused to rule out the possibility when questioned at his weekly press conference.

“I do not bid for anybody at the moment,” Wenger said. “But in the summer we will bid for people, yes."

When pressed for clarification on whether Sterling is a player he is interested in, Wenger said: “I do not like to lie. If I say I will and I don’t do it, you will say I lied.”

The Gunners were unsuccessful when they tried to pry Luis Suarez from Liverpool’s grasp two years ago after lodging a bid of £40,000,001.

Wenger was asked if he was fearful of a repeat of that situation if he does elect to move for Sterling and he said the player’s wishes are the biggest factor.

“They (Liverpool) have the right to decide what they want but at the end of the day you need the agreement of the player as well,” added the Frenchman.

Sterling’s agent Aidy Ward attempted to defuse the situation on Tuesday by releasing a statement which stressed nothing definitive has yet been decided regarding the England international’s future.

“The story has been blown somewhat out of proportion,” Ward said.

“Raheem and his representatives have a meeting scheduled with Liverpool later this week and we will take proceedings from there.”

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Raheem Sterling's agent says Liverpool talks to go ahead as planned

Raheem Sterling's agent tries to dampen speculation

Raheem Sterling's agent claims widespread reports that the winger is set to tell Liverpool he wants to leave the club this summer have 'been blown somewhat out of proportion'.

Aidy Ward, who also represents West Brom striker Saido Berahino, said he and Sterling were always scheduled to meet Liverpool officials this week and insists they will move forward from there.

"The story has been blown somewhat out of proportion," Ward said.

"Raheem and his representatives have a meeting scheduled with Liverpool later this week, and we will take proceedings from there."

Sterling has started 34 of Liverpool’s 35 Premier League games this season, scoring eight goals and directly assisting another seven.

The England winger has two years left on his current Anfield deal and reportedly rejected Liverpool’s offer of a £100,000-a-week to commit his future to the club.

Sky Sports News HQ

understands that regardless of the contract stand-off, Liverpool's position remains unchanged and that 20-year-old Sterling is not for sale.

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Raheem Sterling has no plans to sign new Liverpool deal

Raheem Sterling: No plans to sign new deal.

Raheem Sterling is set to resume contract talks with Liverpool later this week but intends to tell them he does not plan to sign a new deal, according to Sky sources.

It is understood the 20-year-old England international winger will make a decision about his future by the end of this week, when he is due to meet with manager Brendan Rodgers and chief executive Ian Ayre.

After the meeting, it will become clear whether he intends to stay at Anfield, or leave the club. 

As it stands, Sky sources expect that Sterling will tell Liverpool that he will not be signing a new deal.

His existing contract still has two years left to run and the player said last month that his decision is not about money but will be motivated by his will to win trophies.

Sky sources say it is because he feels the club have tried to bully him into signing a new contract - and that he does not think they have protected him from negative headlines.

Sterling is also angry that details of earlier contract offers have been leaked. 

Liverpool told Sky Sports News HQ on Monday evening that their position remains unchanged and Sterling is not for sale. 

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Study names Lovren as top defender

Dejan Lovren (c): Top defender in England?

Football fans were left scratching their heads on Monday evening when a study named Liverpool's Dejan Lovren as the best centre-back in the Premier League.

Liverpool fans had high hopes for Lovren when he signed from Southampton for £20million last summer, but his first season at Anfield has widely been regarded as a failure.

Lovren committed a number of errors, was part of a Liverpool team that has conceded just nine fewer goals than relegation-threatened Hull and went through a spell of starting one league game in three months due to his poor form.

But the CIES Football Observatory see things differently. Its annual study into the top five leagues in Europe concluded that the former Lyon defender is better than John Terry, Vincent Kompany and Gary Cahill.

Based on its six criterion of shooting; chance creation; take on; distribution; recovery and rigour, Lovren is the 12th best defender in Europe and top of the pile in England.

Paris St Germain defender Thiago Silva is rated as the best centre-back in Europe, with Jerome Boateng of Bayern Munich and Barcelona's Javier Mascherano just behind him.

Despite being involved in a relegation scrap, Sunderland's Patrick van Aanholt is rated as the 15th best full-back in Europe, while Gael Clichy is third and Manchester United's Antonio Valencia fourth.

Chelsea's Cesc Fabregas is regarded as the best "defensive midfielder" on the continent.

Only James Rodriguez is rated as a better attacking midfielder than Chelsea star Eden Hazard. Swansea's Gylfi Sigurdsson makes the cut for the top 15, sitting in 14th place - 10 places above Manchester City's David Silva.

Unsurprisingly, Lionel Messi is listed as Europe's best forward. The Barcelona star tops the strikers' table, followed by his old rival Cristiano Ronaldo and Luis Suarez. Sergio Aguero is fifth, Diego Costa seventh and Gareth Bale 14th.

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Survival Sunday: Sky Sports to show three live Premier League games

Hull v Man Utd, Chelsea v Sunderland and Newcastle v West Ham: all live on Sky Sports

Sky Sports will be the home of the Premier League on the final day, with all the build-up and three games exclusively live from both ends of the table as a dramatic season comes to a close.

The three teams who are still in danger of relegation will all be in action on Survival Sunday, while Sky Sports viewers can also watch Jose Mourinho's Chelsea play their final match before being awarded the Barclays Premier League trophy at Stamford Bridge.

Sunderland will be the visitors to west London, potentially hoping to preserve their Premier League status, while Newcastle United take on West Ham United with the same aim. Hull City host Manchester United and must win and hope for other results to go their way to remain in the top flight.

Sky's live fixtures this Sunday are:

- Hull City v Manchester United, live on Sky Sports 1 from 2pm

- Chelsea v Sunderland, live on Sky 1 from 2pm

- Newcastle United v West Ham, live on Sky Sports 3 from 2.55pm

While viewers have the choice between three matches kicking off at the same time, they will also be delivered live updates and goal replays from the other matches to ensure they are fully up to speed with the relegation picture as it happens.

Gillette Soccer Special will also offer six hours of coverage of the final day, with Jeff Stelling presenting the final edition of the season across Sky Sports News HQ from 12noon on Sunday.

On skysports.com and Sky Sports' mobile apps, fans can follow the action from the final day via an interactive live blog. Fans can also choose individual matches and recieve minute-by-minute clockwatch updates.

The final three Premier League matches complete a 23rd season on Sky Sports, with 49 of the 50 most watched matches all live on Sky Sports once again this term. All 20 teams are featured in the 49 matches screened, underlining the importance to viewers of Sky Sports’ coverage of clubs at both ends of the table. 

Sky Sports will also show all three Sky Bet Football League play-off finals this weekend, starting with Southend United v Wycombe Wanderers live from Wembley on Saturday.

Preston North End then face Swindon in the League One play-off on Sunday, before the Championship play-off sees Middlesbrough and Norwich City fighting for a place in the Premier League on Monday.

As the football season draws to a close, Sky Sports stands on the brink of another huge summer of sport for Sky Sports viewers with a schedule that includes The Ashes, Major golf, every Formula One Grand Prix weekend, England’s IRB World Cup warm-up matches and the return of another huge season of live football. 

Sky Sports will offer at least four more seasons of the Premier League, including three times as many live matches as any other broadcaster, the most-watched slots in the schedule and the best match picks from the 2016/17 season.

In February, Sky Sports secured exclusive rights to the Premier League from 2016-17 to 2018-19, winning five of the packages available and increasing the number of games to 126 per season. This ensured that Sky Sports will continue to be the home of the Barclays Premier League for at least another four years.

Next season, Sky Sports viewers can also enjoy even more live Football League coverage, with 148 live games from the Sky Bet Football League, Capital One Cup and Johnstone’s Paint Trophy.  

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