Liverpool transfer rumours: How they could line up without Raheem Sterling
With 10 goals for Liverpool this season, Raheem Sterling has 22 for the club before he's even turned 21, so why isn't he the toast of Anfield right now?
Add eight assists for the Reds and he would normally be lauded by fans and the press alike, but that isn't the case at present.
It all stems from the fact that contract negotiations between Sterling and Liverpool have stalled until the summer, with the youngster reportedly turning down an offer of £100,000-a-week.
LIVERPOOL CAN COPE WITHOUT STERLING, SAYS FORMER CHIEF EXEC
Brendan Rodgers has cooled speculation that the attacker will leave in the summer, although a large offer from a big club has not stopped Liverpool from selling before, with Fernando Torres and Louis Suarez being recent examples.
But if Liverpool were to sell Sterling – who is talented, but nowhere near the finished article of a world-class player – would it cause the club to regress further than they have already this season?
With the money from any sale, Liverpool could replace and strengthen with new, more established players.
They could also have the option of continuing with Rodgers’ ethos of introducing young players into the side - an ideal that allowed Sterling to flourish.
Here, talkSPORT looks at how Liverpool could line up next season without Sterling and asks, would life really be that bad at Anfield without Raheem?
1. Theo Walcott in a potential swap deal with Sterling
Rumours have been circulating recently of a potential swap deal between Arsenal and Liverpool for Theo Walcott and Sterling.
This deal is reportedly includes Arsenal paying an extra £20million, a fee only £2.7million less than Liverpool paid for Suarez in 2011.
Walcott is the more experienced player, with 72 goals for Arsenal, which includes 11 goals in the Champions League since joining the club in 2006.
The 26-year-old would seem an easy fit into Liverpool’s pacey attack and could bring more goals than Sterling, who arguably should be scoring more given his advanced role for the club.
Even if Sterling is the younger of the two, his improvement over the last few seasons may lead to him leaving for another club in the not too distant future, ironically making Walcott the better long-term investment.
Sterling could go on to prove the better player, but as Walcott knows, career trajectories don't always rise inexorably.
Here's how Liverpool could line up with Walcott in the team:
2. Use the money to bring in more high-profile names to the club
Liverpool could - whisper it - 'do a Manchester United' and spend big on ready made players in the transfer window.
With United likely now to finish in the Champions League spots, everyone concerned at Anfield must be wondering if the Reds need to take their spending to another level.
Players they could bring to the club by using the proceeds of any £50-60million sale of Sterling - plus dipping into the Anfield coffers – are Edinson Cavani, Pedro, Javier Pastore and Ezequiel Lavezzi.
Between them for club and country, they have a total of 46 goals and 19 assists so far this season and all are reportedly unsettled at their respective clubs.
Rather than signing players like Adam Lallana and Lazar Markovic, who were unproven at Champions League level, perhaps bigger and more established names could come in and push the club on to bigger and greater things.
It would take a change of tactic from John Henry, but the competition for a top four spot requires financial ambition when your rivals can sign Di Maria, Alexis Sanchez, Sergio Aguero and Cesc Fabregas.
Here's how the team could look next season with all these new signings:
3. Replace Sterling with Jordon Ibe to continue the latter's his development.
Since making his Liverpool debut against QPR in May 2013, in which he got an assist, Jordon Ibe has continued to improve.
The 19-year-old has already made some key appearances this season, including the Merseyside derby, after his recall from his loan spell at Derby County.
His form with the Rams was impressive, scoring five goals in just 24 appearances from wide midfield.
Furthermore, Rodgers has not hidden his high regard for the player, praising him at every opportunity and throwing the youngster into big games in both the Premier League and Europe.
Liverpool could benefit by allowing Ibe to play consistently to improve on his undoubted ability in an attacking team that suits his game.
He has pace and power similar to that of Sterling’s and in time the Reds could have a replacement for Sterling who is prepared to play and be loyal to the club for the foreseeable future.
Here's how Liverpool may line up with Ibe replacing Sterling:
Do you think Liverpool can afford to let Raheem Sterling go?