How stars helped seal deal

Academy Director Frank McParland today revealed how Rafael Benitez, Steven Gerrard, Fernando Torres and Kenny Dalglish all played their part in convincing Raheem Sterling to join the Reds.

The Under-15 England international last week agreed to sign for Liverpool from Queens Park Rangers, as the Reds again demonstrated their desire to invest in outstanding young British talent.

Sterling will now work with the club's youth team at their base in Kirkby, and McParland admits he's looking forward to watching the player develop over the coming years.

"He's a good player who has joined a lot of other good players we have in the Academy," he said.

Click on the image to watch McParland on Sterling

"We have five or six boys who play for England as well as boys with Hungary and Germany, so he's coming into a place where there's a lot of quality. Whenever you raise the bar by bringing in more good players then everyone improves.

"As soon as we received permission to speak with him we showed him around the Academy and then took him to Melwood where Rafa showed him around. He met Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres and then came back to the Academy for a twenty minute chat with Kenny. We all work together at this club and it wasn't hard to convince him to come here."

With so much interest from other clubs in Sterling's signature, what is it about the young midfielder which ensured his talents were so coveted?

"He has electrifying pace and can use both feet, which is so important in the modern game," added McParland.

"But he knows he has to come here and work hard. He's good player but he's just another player now in a fantastic group."