Raheem Sterling centre-stage again in Gerrard’s final week

The exploits of Liverpool's 20 year old forward are back in the news today after journalists appeared to have been briefed about a meeting later this week between the club and Sterling.

The suggestions from the media is that Sterling will hand in a transfer request.  According to the BBC, Sterling told Brendan Rodgers he wanted to leave before the Chelsea game and at a meeting this Friday his agent will make a transfer request.

Sterling has over 2 years remaining on his existing deal and turned down a reported £100k a week contract earlier this year.

Raheem's performances have been stinking the place out in recent weeks, although Rodgers had continued to name the player in his Liverpool side.

The players agent, Aidy Ward, rushed out a response to this 'leak' saying:

"The story has been somewhat blown out of proportion. Raheem and his representatives have a meeting scheduled with Liverpool later this week, and we will take proceedings from there."

There have been suggestions from some that all of this Sterling debate is a convenient smokescreen for club owners Fenway Sports Group who have overseen a disappointing 12 months in charge - losing two talismanic figures and replacing them with an expensive array of 'promising flops'.  Allowing the next few weeks to focus on Raheem allows some people at the club to avoid the full glare of their failure.

Raheem Sterling spent Saturday evening partying with several Crystal Palace players in Manchester just hours after the reds lost 3-1 - Palace's first win at Anfield for over 20 years.

Since the story broke a whole host of TV pundits and former players have expressed their opinion on Raheem Sterling - most of them insisting he change his agent - not his football club.

Both Man City and Chelsea have been touted as two teams interested - although Liverpool have expressed their intention not to sell the player.

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