When it rains at Anfield, it pours
First, it was Raheem Sterling turning down £100,000 a week and doing ‘that’ interview with the BBC. Then this morning’s reports of a dressing-room fallout between boss Brendan Rodgers and senior Liverpool players. Now it’s the turn of club vice-captain Jordan Henderson to rock the Mersey boat with the news that the midfielder has turned down a new £80,000 a week contract.
With most of the attention on Sterling’s contract impasse, despite the two years remaining on his deal, Henderson’s deal expires in a little over a year, and the presumptive captain-in-waiting once Steven Gerrard jets off for California this summer, the 24-year-old probably believes he deserves to join Sterling among the club’s highest earners. Chelsea are monitoring the situation and are ready to offer the England man another crack at the Champions League next year. (Daily Star)
In even worse news for Liverpool fans, the club are in talks to take misfiring Manchester United forward Radamel Falcao to Anfield next season. (Metro)
Arsenal are closing in on the signing of 16-year-old Argentine wonderkid Maximiliano Romero. Dubbed the ‘next Lionel Messi’ (of course he is), 16-year-old Romero has yet to make his senior debut for Velez Sarsfield, but the Gunners are ready to pay £5million for the youngster, who said: ‘Talks with Arsenal are at an advanced stage. It is an immense joy that has appeared in my life. We must begin to learn English.’ (ESPN)
Nathaniel Clyne looks set to be next Southampton star to leave the south coast after turning down a reported £45,000-a-week contract extension. The England full-back is highly-rated and any decision to cash in this summer would lead to a bidding war between Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United. (Guardian)
Oriel Romeu is ready to quit Chelsea in search of ‘stability’. The 23-year-old midfield man has made only 15 starts in almost four years at Stamford Bridge and is currently on loan with Stuttgart having spent last year at Valencia. ‘In June I’ll speak with Chelsea to know their intentions,’ the player said. ‘After two seasons on loan, the ideal would be settling into a club to get some stability. Every player needs continuity.’ (Mirror)
