Liverpool prize asset and subject of much speculation Raheem Sterling has claimed he would have signed a new contract for the club immediately for less money than is being offered now, had it been on the table last year, according to the Mirror.
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The young England star has so far turned down every offer of a new deal from the Reds, amid speculation that he is set to depart Anfield in the summer.
The winger’s current deal still has two years to run at £35,000 per week, which Liverpool want to extend following suggestion of an “incredible” offer made to him according to manager Brendan Rodgers.
Sterling has now revealed that if a similar, or lower, offer had been forthcoming at this stage last season, he would have signed it.
He said, “If, at that point in time, I was offered a contract, I most definitely would have signed straight away, probably for far less money than being said now. I just think the timing was a bit off.”
According to the Mirror, European heavyweights such as Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Arsenal and Manchester City are all paying close attention to his situation, though he tries to put it to the back of his mind.
“I try to kill it off, but I don’t think the public can see it that way,” the flying attacker said. “I think they just see it as this 20-year-old boy being greedy.
“I just want to take the time to think about what I’ve achieved in my career so far, where I need to go and what I need to do to get better as a player.”
Any move away from Anfield for Sterling will no doubt hurt Liverpool, with the winger having been a huge part of their team, featuring in 36 games this season, scoring seven and assisting eight.