PRO – The embodiment of home-grown talent
The footballing authorities are continuing to step-up their demands on home-grown talent, by all accounts a positive move that will help promote talented young English players. What sort of statement would we be making if we let our best young English player leave – especially to a domestic rival such as Manchester City or Arsenal? In terms of filling homegrown quotas, we’ll be ok because of our UK heavy squad – but Sterling’s the most highly valued of the bunch.
CON – We have a ready-made replacement waiting in the wings
Jordon Ibe showed earlier this season that he has quality in spades. The teenager returned from his loan move at Derby County and shone, turning in a number of man-of-the-match performances before his season was cruelly cut short by injury. Sterling’s departure would open the door for him to continue progressing on the big stage.
