Liverpool have allowed Raheem Sterling’s departure to become a drawn-out affair for all the right reasons, but the time has come to expedite his exit.
A conscious uncoupling has been inevitable since Sterling’s opportunistic and ill-advised interview with the BBC in April, in which he insisted that he isn’t simply “a money-grabbing 20-year-old”.
The best course of action for the Reds has been to remain patient – aided by the additional year on the winger’s contract – and pursue possible replacements until Manchester City eventually stump up the £50m asking price.
It is the same tactic Tottenham adopted while waiting for Real Madrid to break the world record for Gareth Bale in 2013 – although Liverpool will of course hope their acquisitions of Roberto Firmino, James Milner and Danny Ings prove a little more fruitful than Spurs’ splurge.
Until now, there has been no rush to resolve Sterling’s situation, with Brendan Rodgers possibly even holding faint hope that his crop of signings would encourage reconciliation.
But the time to build bridges is over – that much is clear following Sterling’s no-show at training on Wednesday amid rumours he is refusing to travel on the club’s pre-season tour.
This distraction is the last thing Rodgers needs ahead of a decisive season in terms of his own future. Suggestions that Sterling no longer wants to play for the manager are enormously harmful, especially at a time when Rodgers is hoping to cultivate optimism as he beds in his new recruits.
Raheem Sterling failed to attend training this morning after phoning in sick. Liverpool are refusing to comment on his absence.
— Tony Barrett (@TonyBarrett) July 8, 2015
Liverpool have been winning the PR battle, but the saga has now entered an unpleasant territory which reflects well on neither party.
Reports that Sterling was sent racist abuse by fans on Tuesday night after his mobile number was posted online are a particularly nasty development, and one that should help spur the Reds into serious negotations with City.
A public war benefits no-one, and City – buoyed by the easing of Financial Fair Play restrictions – will not wait forever. Do Liverpool really want to start the season with a player who has made it crushingly apparent that he doesn’t want to be there?
The longer this continues, the more the Reds risk further disruption to their plans. As they prepare to embark on a money-spinning tour of Australia at the same time as Sterling’s leading suitors, it would be wise to accept that a sulking squad member is never a good look. The time has come to move on.
