Former Liverpool striker John Aldridge has expressed his belief that the Reds have the ideal replacement for Raheem Sterling in the form of Jordon Ibe.
The Merseysiders are said to be planning crunch talks with contract rebel Sterling, with the 20-year-old set to tell manager Brendan Rodgers that he wants to leave Anfield this summer.
Aldridge says that Liverpool should look to cash in on the England international and replace him with Ibe, who has broken into the first team this season.
"It's not ideal with Steven Gerrard leaving at the same time but if we get £40m we've got an ideal replacement for Raheem's position in Jordon Ibe," Aldridge told the Liverpool Echo.
"It's a hard one for the manager, for Ian Ayre and for John Henry. I want him to be at Liverpool for the rest of his career. If he can endear himself to the fans again then there's no reason for him to leave Liverpool.
"From where we are I'd be surprised if he stayed but I'd love to be proved wrong."
Sterling's current contract runs until 2017.
Steven Toplis
