da bwin： If you’ve had your head trapped in a vase for the last 24 hours, you might have missed (but probably still heard about it through your clay helmet) the latest episode in Raheem Sterling’s lengthy transfer saga at Liverpool.
da premier bet： The wantaway winger, who rejected a contract extension worth £100k per week earlier this season, was expected to tell Ian Ayre he wants to leave Anfield during his scheduled meeting with the Reds’ chief executive this afternoon.
But the Liverpool hierarchy have decided to cancel the meeting due to comments from the 20-year-old’s agent Aidy Ward – who told The Evening Standard yesterday that Sterling ‘wouldn’t sign for £900k per-week’, before branding Anfield-icon-turned-pundit Jamie Carragher ‘a knob’.
So by hook or by crook, it seems the England international is hell-bent on forcing his way out of Anfield this summer, meaning it’s time for the Merseysiders to consider some viable replacements.
Being quite a foreseeing bunch here at Football Fancast, we’ve already listed FIVE…
Jeremy Menez
Jeremy Menez signed for AC Milan only last summer but there’s already talk of him moving on after a sensational debut campaign at the San Siro.
The 28-year-old has bagged 16 goals and four assists in 33 Serie A appearances, whilst averaging 1.4 created chances and 2.2 successful dribbles per match.
The France international’s natural pedigree has been well-documented for some time. Arsenal and Manchester United both tried to sign the once prodigious youngster prior to his senior debut for Sochaux in 2004, with the latter club even accused of attempting to ‘tap up’ the attacking midfielder.
It never quite materialised at Monaco, Roma or PSG, despite sporadic patches of good form, but Menez appears to have finally come of age this term, as the standout star of a Milan side set to finish in the bottom half of the Italian table.
The 5 foot 11 attacker can play anywhere across the frontline or the attacking midfield berth. If there’s one lingering concern, however, it’s that he lacks the tenacity and pace for Liverpool’s high-pressing, counter-attacking mantra.
THEO WALCOTT
A swap deal involving Theo Walcott has already been mooted as a potential scenario by the tabloids amid the winger’s lengthy contract dispute at Arsenal. Admittedly, it would address Liverpool’s need for a direct Sterling replacement in incredibly swift fashion.
The 26-year-old perhaps lacks the natural flair, guile and ingenuity of Sterling – and particularly, his ability to play efficiently at No.10.
But there’s no doubting the England international’s effectiveness in the top flight. His blend of lightening pace and netting prowess has produced a potent haul of 38 goals and 29 assists in 119 Premier League appearances since the start of the 2010/11 campaign.
He’d suit Liverpool’s breakneck-paced counter-attacking play and their sustained philosophy of nurturing home-grown talent. Furthermore, Walcott looks set to leave the Emirates one way or another this summer with his contract set to expire in 2016, so a move to Merseyside is certainly plausible.
But the former Southampton youngster would struggle to find a role in the 3-4-2-1 system Rodgers has used this season, and he’s struggled for both fitness and form over the last two campaigns.
Nabil Fekir
There’s plenty of promising talent in Ligue 1 at the moment but Nabil Fekir might well be the pick of the bunch.
Playing a supporting role to the division’s top scorer Alexandre Lacazette, the Lyon prodigy has amassed a sensational haul of 13 goals and nine assists in 33 league outings this season, earning him Ligue 1’s Young Player of the Year award.
He’s not a winger as such, more stocky and powerful than agile and pacey. But in a similar vein to Sterling, he’s a nomadic attacker who drifts around the final third. And perhaps most importantly of all, considering Liverpool will be a losing a player who could’ve underpinned their starting XI for the next decade, he’s only 21 years of age.
Fekir’s contract doesn’t expire until 2019 so Les Gones are under no obligation to sell this summer. But the sale of Sterling will leave Liverpool with enough financial firepower to test the Stade de Gerland outfit’s resolve.
ROBERTO FIRMINO
Roberto Firmino has been on the Anfield radar for some time and Raheem Sterling’s departure could well amplify Liverpool’s interest in the Hoffenheim star.
The 23-year-old is perhaps the most similar suggestion to Sterling on this list; he’s featured in virtually every position for the Bundesliga outfit over the last two campaigns, ranging from centre-mid to centre-forward, and produced a lethal return of 22 goals and 20 assists in 65 appearances.
This season, he’s averaged the third-most successful dribbles per match, 4.2, of any Bundesliga player.
In terms of his fluid mobility and versatility, the Brazil international is the type of player Brendan Rodgers tends to go for. He’d certainly build up a good rapport with the likeminded Philippe Coutinho and Adam Lallana in attacking midfield.
Firmino looks set to leave Hoffenheim this summer after two campaigns of talisman status. But after netting two goals in his first four appearances for Selecao, there’s plenty of interest in the £20million-rated attacking midfielder.
PEDRO
In my opinion, the best case scenario Liverpool can hope for if they’re forced to sell Raheem Sterling – according to the tabloids, Barcelona will sell Pedro for just £7million this summer due to his Nou Camp contract entering its final year.
The winger-forward has done it and won it all throughout his Barcelona and Spain careers, namely lifting five La Liga titles, two Champions League titles, the 2010 World Cup and the 2012 European Championship, and at 27 years of age is still firmly within his prime. Since his debut in 2008, Pedro has amassed a career return of 114 goals in 365 appearances.
Brendan Rodgers was hell-bent on signing Alexis Sanchez as Luis Suarez’ replacement last summer and his former team-mate would be a more than effective surrogate, blessed with a similar blend of industry, trickery and netting prowess.
Adept at playing anywhere across the front line and potentially even at No.10, Pedro is certainly capable of filling Sterling’s void. In fact, many would argue he’s a far superior option to the wantaway winger.
Resultantly, however, there’s already quite a queue for his services, with Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham all linked. A lack of Champions League football could cost Liverpool dearly in the race to sign the Nou Camp star.