Paul Merson says Liverpool could in line to benefit from the deal of century.
The Sky Sports pundit believes the mooted transfer between Liverpool and Arsenal, a swap deal involving Theo Walcott and Raheem Sterling trading clubs, and Arsenal also paying a hefty transfer fee, is too good for the Liverpool to turn down.
‘If Theo Walcott goes to Liverpool, Raheem Sterling goes to Arsenal and Liverpool get some money, I think Liverpool have had the best deal ever,’ Merson said this morning.
The former Arsenal midfielder doesn’t think Sterling is good enough to be an automatic starter for Arsene Wenger’s side anyway. Merson believes the player doesn’t get his head up, ignoring the fact Walcott has spent nine years at Arsenal without doing so, and claims his career could follow a similar path to Scott Sinclair, the former Manchester City and Chelsea winger.
‘If he [Sterling] goes to Arsenal, will he play? I don’t think he’s an Arsenal player. I don’t think he gets his head up or moves the ball quick enough’.
‘The problem is, these players make wrong decisions. We go ‘where are all our good young English players?’ They don’t want to be the best they can be. Look at Scott Sinclair, he would have played 30 times for England now if he didn’t go to Manchester City – everybody knew he wasn’t going to play at City. I can see similarities between Sinclair and Sterling’.
Merse also said he couldn’t believe Sterling turned down a £100,000 per week contract from Liverpool, and that the player’s been badly advised.
‘It’s unbelievable, Liverpool, one of the biggest clubs in the world are offering him £100,000-a-week and he’s turning it down… not for me,’ the pundit said.
‘I think he’s going to struggle. The fans will be on his back very quickly. He should get his head down and take the money. He’s been badly advised. Actually, badly advised isn’t even the word – it’s worse than that’. Which is, seemingly, very badly advised.
‘He’s 20 years old and has been offered £100,000-a-week. He’s not looking for his last move – he’s got another two moves left yet only if he fulfils his potential’.
H/T Sky Sports.