Top 5: Premier League summer transfer sagas

3. Raheem Sterling

I lost count of the number of times I heard or read comments over from Brendan Rodgers stating that Sterling would not be sold.

This started at the end of last year when it was made public that the England winger had rejected Liverpool’s contract offer.

We then had the player coming out stating it wasn’t about the money and there was a big hoo-ha about that.

As recently as May, Rodgers said that he expected Sterling to see out the remaining two years on his contract.

However, speculation grew that he would leave with Arsenal being linked until the purported asking price reached £50m.

Eventually Manchester City made formal bids, starting as low as £25m plus add-ons. It soon became inevitable that he would move to the Etihad as further bids went in.

Finally he signed for City on July 14th for a fee rising to £49m; a staggering price for an inconsistent if yet very talented man. The English player premium had struck again.

Clubs linked with: Real Madrid, Manchester City, Arsenal.

Outcome: Joined Manchester City for fee rising to £49m.

Next….