It seems that with every passing day some more negative Liverpool news comes to light. Be it the Steven Gerrard contract saga, Mario Balotelli’s woeful form or Brendan Rodgers’ future, there is always something to worry about for Reds fans… aside from their side’s ailing performances on the pitch.

And now the future of Raheem Sterling is further in the dark, with Bayern Munich the latest European juggernaut to be aligned with the youngster. The England international’s contract negotiations seem to be moving as slowly as Rickie Lambert’s legs at the moment, so the possibility of the starlet leaving Merseyside is a genuine one, which is a MASSIVE worry for all who love the club.

Although Liverpool want to keep their man, does staying actually make sense for the player? We’re not entirely sure it does, and here are FIVE reasons why…

Has the chance to be a true great

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Sterling has the chance to be one of English football’s very best players. The 20-year-old already has 100 Liverpool appearances under his belt and is considered to be one of the Three Lions’ key players, with 13 caps to his name. It’s rare for players tipped to go to the very top at a young age to reach their predicted heights – just look at Freddy Adu – but the former QPR ace, who rose to prominence in his early teenage years, looks to be on course to live up to the billing.

Can he match his ambitions at Liverpool, though? It’s a tricky one to judge, but with the Reds by no means established at the top end of the Premier League, there’s a chance that the ceiling at Anfield may be lower than his talent deserves to reach.

More money

Okay, this one won’t be too popular with football fans, but Sterling could easily earn more money away from Anfield. A £70,000-per-week contract offer is believed to have been snubbed by the youngster, who is clearly aware that bigger clubs have more cash to burn. In fairness we can see where he’s coming from, with Ashley Young, by no means a top star anymore, earning in the region of £120,000-per-week at Man United.

Massive teams are interested in Sterling, which could prompt a bidding war should he look to make a move away from Anfield.

Big teams interested

The last point leads neatly into the fact that huge clubs are chasing Sterling. Bayern Munich are the latest giant of the game to be linked with the starlet, while Chelsea, Real Madrid and Manchester City are also names to have been thrown into the mix. If you look at this bunch, they are all competing for domestic and European honours on a regular basis, and are – granted the Reds are a popular club – some of the most followed and loved sides on the planet.

Liverpool cannot challenge regularly for top honours

Again edging on from the last point, Liverpool cannot offer regular challenges for silverware. Since Brendan Rodgers’ appointment as manager, the Merseyside outfit have not won a major trophy, and have, in truth, not really been that close – albeit they finished second in the league last season. The return to the Champions League this term illustrated just how far adrift of the true giants Liverpool are, with one the embarrassing double header against Real Madrid a genuine concern.

Sinking ship…

It may be a little early to completely write Liverpool off, but the signs are not great. From last season’s euphoric highs, the Reds are struggling on a weekly basis, and appear to be some way from the swashbuckling force they were just a matter of months ago. Add in the fact that Rodgers is under pressure and inspirational captain Steven Gerrard may either move away from Anfield or decline further due to his advancing years, and there are real causes to be worried. Sterling can escape the uncertainty with a move, and few could blame him for doing so.