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LIVERPOOL -- Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers has warned Raheem Sterling and his representatives not to get greedy as contract talks continue. Sterling, 20, has still not signed a new deal -- expected to commit him to staying at Anfield until 2020 -- even though negotiations began in October. The England international's current contract runs until 2017, and the Reds are keen to extend his stay at the club. Steven Gerrard last week said that Liverpool should move quickly to ensure new contracts are in place for both Sterling and vice-captain Jordan Henderson, whose current deal runs out in 2016. Rodgers, though, has revealed that Sterling has been offered an "incredible" deal, and should accept the contract put in front of him. He told a news conference: "It's an incredible deal for a young player. I've spoken to Raheem a number of times. He's very happy here, and you see that in his game. "What he's been granted here at this club is an opportunity. We see that with lots of young players who get the opportunity to play here. They get rewarded for that, but we're certainly not a club that's going to give out something way above what a player's worth at a certain time in their career. "It's not a case of just giving a player what they want -- and I'm not talking about Raheem here, I'm talking in general. We want to reward our best talents. They're a big part of our future. We're confident that will be in hand and will be agreed very soon." Reports in December suggested that Sterling had rejected an offer of 70,000 pounds a week -- which is believed to be more than double his current salary -- while it has been claimed since then that any new deal will be worth closer to 100,000 pounds a week. As far back as Jan. 9, sources told ESPN FC that an agreement with the forward was close, but even though Rodgers said on Jan. 22 that the deal was "very imminent," it has still not been signed. The Reds boss, who gave Sterling a short break in January to rest and recuperate, is wary of giving young players too much money too soon, fearing it could warp their sense of reality. Rodgers said: "Talking in general, and not just about Raheem, it's very important that young players have something to strive for. If they get too much, too young, it can sabotage their development. "That's why we communicate a lot with the players and with their advisers. If they're given good advice and sound advice, they will see that. It's about mapping out a career of a young player. Raheem's been outstanding since we put him in the team, but we mustn't forget that he was a 17-year-old boy given an opportunity at Liverpool. "In the two-and-a-half years since we introduced him into the team, he's been fantastic, but he still has a long way to go. He still has a lot to do in his development. We believe this will be the best place for him, and I believe he knows that as well. "It's important to reward him. His value and worth are very important to us but you need to leave something for them to progress on to the next level. That's important for all young players, not just for Raheem."
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