COMMENT: Raheem Sterling needs to shut himself away from his 'advisers', shut himself away from all the noise and have a serious look at his situation with Liverpool.
The decision to suspend contract talks until the summer is a sure sign that negotiations have stalled. Currently on £35,000-a-week, Sterling's camp has been offered a five-year deal worth £100,000-a-week. But his agents are insisting on more - £150,000-a-week, to be exact, and parity with Daniel Sturridge.
Yes, when Steven Gerrard leaves he will become (perhaps with Sturridge) the club's most important player, as his agents are now arguing. But why is that?
Brendan Rodgers, the Liverpool manager, spent the preseason hatching a plan to bring out the best in Sterling - not Sturridge, but Sterling. A 4-3-3 system was designed, as Rodgers has since admitted, to exploit the strengths of Sterling's game. And since it was employed in the New Year, both club and player haven't looked back.
Going into tonight's match at Swansea City, Liverpool sit five points behind fourth placed Manchester United with a game in hand - a prospect which appeared the stuff of fantasy before Christmas. But the system and Rodgers' faith in Sterling have Liverpool back on track to repeat last season's Champions League qualification.
Is there anyother club, of Liverpool's status, in Europe where a 20 year-old player would be backed as Rodgers has with Sterling? This is one of the key questions the player should be asking himself.
If his advisers are indeed in his ear, assuring him of bites from Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Chelsea, then Sterling needs to shake off the ego, look deep inside himself and realise that there's no chance of him enjoying the same treatment as he does at Melwood.
Another question for Sterling is: why now and why so much?
His development - and therefore his earning capacity - is never going to be better served than by working with Rodgers at Liverpool. And with a £100,000-a-week on table, it's clear the club wants him to be happy. So why the rush for £150,000-a-week? Doesn't his agents believe he is capable of getting there in two or three years' time?
Rodgers has spoken about the "too much, too soon" culture in England. Having worked extensively in youth football, he's seen too many cases of potential being blown because of money.
tribalfootball.com has learned there's just no way Rodgers will break his principles, even for a talent like Sterling. And rightly so.
Among the England international's peers is Paul Pogba, the Juventus midfielder. Pogba was wrongly accused of quitting Manchester United for money. He didn't. The Frenchman left Old Trafford after seeing his first team path blocked by Paul Scholes' decision to come out of retirement.
At 20, Sterling's age, Pogba was a first teamer and helping Juve win the Scudetto - earning less than £20,000-a-week. That's £15,000-a-week less than what Sterling signed for as an 18 year-old.
Pogba is now being mentioned as potentially the first €100 million transfer. The midfielder's development continues and he penned new terms earlier this year, at the age of 22, worth £75,000-a-year.
Mino Raiola, Pogba's agent, has complete faith in the player's talent. He may be two years older than Sterling, but Raiola knows Pogba is still learning his craft. The huge, life-changing contracts will come in time.
Liverpool are in a strong position. Sterling's current deal runs to 2017 and some of the old bootroom are already calling on Rodgers to cut his losses. Former Reds believe Jordon Ibe could be even better than the England man. Further back, Jerome Sinclair, who could get his first loan move this week to Wigan Athletic, is another staff at Melwood believe has a big future.
Rodgers' development structure is working. There was a stumble this season, but as his team has proved in recent weeks, there is even life without Steven Gerrard. When the manager speaks, Sterling should listen.
At £100,000-a-week, Liverpool are willing to make him the best paid player, for his age, in the game today. For Sterling, that really should be enough, even if it leaves his advisers out of pocket.
