Rodgers won't replace Sterling
Liverpool have no need to sign a direct replacement for winger Raheem Sterling following his move to Manchester City, according to manager Brendan Rodgers.
Sterling completed his move to City on Tuesday in a deal worth up to £49 million, ending a long and fractious transfer saga.
Rodgers insisted on Monday that his relationship with the England international has remained good, despite reports of a fall-out. And the Liverpool boss said ahead of a friendly against Brisbane Roar in Australia on Friday that he has exchanged text messages with the 20-year-old since the move and stressed that there is no bad feeling between them.
Rodgers refused to rule out further signings before the transfer window shuts on Sept. 1, but suggested that there would be no rush into the transfer market following the sale of Sterling.
“There’s not a need for a direct replacement,” Rodgers said. “We’ve brought in a number of really good players, and if you add to that to what we’ve already got, the balance is good.
“Players are always going to be wanting to come to Liverpool. But players will move on. The profile of those we’ve brought in fit the profile of how we want to work. Plus we have players who will better for last season.”
Sterling’s relationship with Liverpool became increasingly strained in his final days at the club, with the player declaring six days before they departed for their tour of the Far East and Australia that he did not want to join it. However, Rodgers said that there was no personal animosity towards him from the winger.
He said: “There were lots of reports about he and I not speaking and falling out, and nothing could be further from the truth. This is a kid I put into the team at 17 years of age. A wonderful talent.
“From that point, he and I worked very, very closely. There are obviously stories and things that went about which were unfortunate towards the end, and I was probably one of a number of reasons why he was supposedly wanting to go. It’s done with now. We were on text yesterday, so our communication is fine.
“We had a long chat about his journey before we left on Sunday in the office because I thought by the time we came back, he’d probably be gone.”
Rodgers’ most expensive signing of this summer has been Roberto Firmino, brought in for £29m from Hoffenheim. The Brazilian attacking midfielder has the potential to take on Sterling’s responsibilities, but Rodgers does not see him as a direct replacement.
He said: “It’s not so much about a direct replacement for Raheem, it’s just about improving the squad. We’ve brought in a number of really good players and you add that to what we’ve already got and the balance in the team looks strong.”
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