Brendan Rodgers has expressed his confidence that Liverpool will fight off interest from some of Europe's biggest clubs to keep Raheem Sterling at the club.
Sterling has reportedly turned down a deal worth in the region of £70,000 per wee that would treble his current contract, and with the club already out of this season's Champions League and floundering in the Premier League, reports have linked Spanish giants Real Madrid and German champions Bayern Munich with a move for the 20-year-old forward.
But Liverpool boss Rodgers told reporters ahead of tonight's Capital One Cup quarter-final against Bournemouth that he is hopeful Sterling will make Anfield his long-term home.
'Raheem is a real catalyst and talisman for this team. He’s been a great example of the progress that a lot of the players have made here, going from a youth team player into one of the top young players in European football.
'The club will work very hard [on the new contract]. Raheem’s happy here and loves being a Liverpool player. I’m sure between them and his representatives we can get a deal done that sees him continue to develop what is an exciting career.'
Reports of the England player's dissatisfaction have emerged in recent weeks but Rodgers believes Sterling remains happy at the club and unaffected by the attacking burden that has been placed on him in the absence of Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge or the speculation surrounding his future.
'I think Raheem has been brilliant,' Rodgers told
The Guardian. 'I don’t think there’s anything affecting him in any way. He’s the type of boy who leaves his representatives to work with the club in order to hopefully organise the deal. He has no real influence on that.
'All I’ve ever asked him to do is concentrate on his football, on preparing himself well, and the performances will come. And I think he’s shown that consistently over this last period.
'I’ll never be surprised that teams are linked with Raheem because he’s such a big talent. He’s just turned 20 years of age. He’s a wonderful young player and a very mature young man. I’m quite relaxed about the situation.'
