Could Chelsea step in to sign Liverpoo starlet Raheem Sterling?

One of the players you would expect to fill plenty of pages in the press this summer would be Raheem Sterling and after news that a new deal has been put on hold, expect there to be plenty between now and the end of the season.

With a contract until 2016, Liverpool have been keen to tie him down to a longer term after some outstanding performances this season but we have been told in recent days that talks of a new contract have been "put on hold".

According to this report, Liverpool have offered Sterling a deal worth £90,000 per week but the article states that the player wants as much as £120,000 per week in order to sign and stay on Merseyside. I just wonder if that's the real reason talks have stalled?

That is an incredible amount of money per week for arguably one of the biggest prospects in the country but can Liverpool afford to upset the apple cart and agree to his demands?

People forget that Sterling is only 20 years of age and will keep on improving. The best years of his career are ahead of him and I could see Liverpool biting the bullet and agreeing to his demands because let's face it, his value is only going to increase in the future.

So what of Chelsea and the possible link to Sterling? Could there be any real credibility in the report? First and foremost if the player is holding out for a new deal that will signal interest from the likes of Chelsea, Manchester City and other big European clubs.

Chelsea will have the money to give Sterling what he wants because as with our recent transfer policy over the past few windows, Chelsea have been investing in younger players for the long term as Jose Mourinho looks to put together a side to dominate for the next ten years.

Of course, you also have to consider what happens to Liverpool. A top four finish is essential for the Merseyside club and at the moment, that's far from certain. If they do qualify for the Champions League then that puts the club into a strong position. If they do not, I guess they would find themselves up against it with clubs that could offer Sterling the big European stage.

My initial reaction to this report was that it was rubbish but thinking about it, based on where Liverpool finish this season, I'm not so sure it is!

What do you people think of Sterling? Do you think he is holding out for a move or just being greedy?