Raheem Sterling is demanding a bumper pay-hike to stay with Liverpool. The Daily Mail says Sterling, who has burst into the first team at Anfield this season, has 18 months to run on a deal worth £2,000 a week plus appearance bonuses and has clubs keen on luring him away from Merseyside.

He is 18 next month and although money was not discussed at the meeting, Liverpool have been preparing terms in the region of £20,000 a week.

Sterling's camp, however, have made it clear they would reject such an offer and consider their options. They believe he deserves closer to £50,000 a week, putting him in the same bracket as other established first-teamers. Stewart Downing, barely picked this season, earns £60,000 a week.