Stuart Pearce says clubs must move early for young players like Raheem Sterling
Stuart Pearce believes it would take 'a huge fee' to prise England winger Raheem Sterling away from Liverpool this summer.
Sterling has two years to run on his current Liverpool deal and has reportedly put contract talks over an extension on hold until the end of the season.
In a recent interview, Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini suggested Liverpool might look at a fee in the region of £100m should a club approach them for Jamaican-born winger.
Pearce managed Sterling during his time as England U21 boss and says clubs like City must take a leap of faith and move early for players with obvious potential like Sterling’s.
Speaking on Tuesday’s Morning View on Sky Sports News HQ, Pearce said: “I think it would take a huge fee to buy him from Liverpool now if you knocked on their door and said ‘how much would Raheem Sterling cost?
“He’s made a big impact in the Premier League and at international level, so you’re buying not only a young English player, but you’re also buying a very good club and international player.
“The trick is to go and buy him like Liverpool did from Queens Park Rangers for a million or £2m or whatever it was a few years ago and take that chance.
“The finance for Jordan Henderson, for example, looks reasonably cheap now at £18m or whatever it was. Arsenal have done the same with Oxlade-Chamberlain and Walcott at £12m and £13m respectively, I think. That looks reasonably cheap. The trick is to go and buy them before they actually break into one of your opponents’ teams.
“He’s your typical young man who is making his way in the game, learning the tricks of the trade. He’s come into professional football after getting his move from Queens Park Rangers with big expectations but his form has been that good.
“He’s growing up as a man and he’s getting better and better as a player. He’s got that ability to go past people that very few have and he’s a very strong individual as well. He’s quite slight in his physique but he can ride tackles really well and he puts you on the back foot as well when he drives at you.”