Football's most controversial transfer saga exploded into acrimony today as England star Raheem Sterling’s agent launched an extraordinary attack on Liverpool and the club’s former players.

The Premier League striker’s representative, Aidy Ward, said Londoner Sterling would refuse to sign a new deal even if he was offered nearly £1 million a week and may well return to the capital to play for Chelsea.

20-year-old Sterling, one of English football’s brightest young prospects, has already turned down a £100,000-a-week deal and is set to have a crunch meeting with manager Brendan Rodgers and Liverpool chief executive Ian Ayre tomorrow.

The protracted and bitter negotiations have reignited the debate about the effect of big money deals on young football players and former Liverpool stars and pundits have queued up to attack Sterling and his advisers.

But hitting back today, Ward told the Standard he “didn’t care” about the club or its image, dismissed criticism by former players as “irrelevant” and branded Liverpool legend and Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher “a knob”.

He said: “I don’t care about the PR of the club and the club situation. I don’t care.

“He is definitely not signing. He’s not signing for £700, £800, £900 thousand a week. He is not signing.

“My job is to make sure I do the best with them (my clients). If people say I am bad at my job, or they are badly advised it does not matter.”

Sterling’s relationship with Liverpool has deteriorated since giving an unauthorised interview to the BBC in which he insisted he was not a “money-grabber”.

Many have blamed his agent Aidy Ward for allegedly giving him “terrible advice” over the handling of contract negotiations and for orchestrating the interview as leverage.

Sterling, who was booed as he collected the club’s Young Player of the Year award this week, is rapidly falling out of favour with Liverpool fans, with one apparently kicking his car as he drove away from Liverpool’s training ground yesterday.

Pundits and former players including Graeme Souness and Mark Lawrenson have criticised the striker and Ward, while Jamie Carragher told the England star to “keep your mouth shut” and “get on with playing football”.

The former defender lambasted Sterling for demanding a move away from Liverpool, and said he needed to dump Ward.

But in an extraordinary attack on one of the club’s most respected former players, Ward said: “Carragher is a knob. Everybody knows it. Any of the criticism from current pundits or ex-Liverpool players - none of them things matter to me. It is not relevant.”

He said their criticism would be the same if Sterling stayed and then left in two years’ time when his contract expires, the only difference being the club would receive less money in transfer fees.

And he also appeared to blame the club for making news about the discussions public, saying: “How did this all occur? There is no smoke without fire.”

Ward said Sterling would not move to Real Madrid, Barcelona or Bayern Munich, and suggested Chelsea or Manchester City were the most likely destinations.

He added: “I am not worried. Worried is making a decision not knowing what is going to happen. Every Premier League club will make a bid for him.”

Raheem Sterling contract saga: The key dates 8 show all Raheem Sterling contract saga: The key dates 1/8 Deal very close January 22



On the contract negotiations manager Brendan Rodgers says: "I would think that would be concluded very imminently. The player is very happy." Getty 2/8 Tactical switch February 9



The tone from the club changes as Rodgers reveals Sterling has been offered an "incredible deal" but adds "It is not a case of giving any player - I'm not talking about Raheem here I'm talking in general - what they want." Getty 3/8 Stalemate March 20



Rodgers announces Sterling and agent Aidy Ward have requested a halt is put on contract negotiations until the end of the season. Getty 4/8 Raheem on TV April 1



Sterling gives a lengthy television interview - not authorised by the club - in which he claims, among other things, he is not a "money-grabbing 20-year-old". 5/8 No deal May 18



Reports emerge suggesting Sterling is to tell Liverpool he will not sign a new contract. Getty 6/8 Calm down May 19



Sterling's agent plays down contract stories, suggesting the significance of the meeting they requested with Liverpool has been "blown somewhat out of proportion" on day of club's end-of-season awards ceremony. Getty 7/8 Agent rant May 21



Aidy Ward, Sterling's agent, exclusively tells Standard Sport the player will definitely not sign a new Anfield deal. Ward goes on to say £900k a week would not tempt the England man into a staying a t Liverpool. GETTY 8/8 Opening bid rebuffed June 12



Liverpool have reject an opening bid of £25 million plus add ons as club values Sterling at £50 million-plus. Getty 1/8 Deal very close January 22



On the contract negotiations manager Brendan Rodgers says: "I would think that would be concluded very imminently. The player is very happy." Getty 2/8 Tactical switch February 9



The tone from the club changes as Rodgers reveals Sterling has been offered an "incredible deal" but adds "It is not a case of giving any player - I'm not talking about Raheem here I'm talking in general - what they want." Getty 3/8 Stalemate March 20



Rodgers announces Sterling and agent Aidy Ward have requested a halt is put on contract negotiations until the end of the season. Getty 4/8 Raheem on TV April 1



Sterling gives a lengthy television interview - not authorised by the club - in which he claims, among other things, he is not a "money-grabbing 20-year-old". 5/8 No deal May 18



Reports emerge suggesting Sterling is to tell Liverpool he will not sign a new contract. Getty 6/8 Calm down May 19



Sterling's agent plays down contract stories, suggesting the significance of the meeting they requested with Liverpool has been "blown somewhat out of proportion" on day of club's end-of-season awards ceremony. Getty 7/8 Agent rant May 21



Aidy Ward, Sterling's agent, exclusively tells Standard Sport the player will definitely not sign a new Anfield deal. Ward goes on to say £900k a week would not tempt the England man into a staying a t Liverpool. GETTY 8/8 Opening bid rebuffed June 12



Liverpool have reject an opening bid of £25 million plus add ons as club values Sterling at £50 million-plus. Getty

Ward, 34, from Bromley, Kent, was formerly associated with agency Impact Sports Management before setting up his own company.

He is also Saido Berahino’s agent, who himself has been at the centre of public contract negotiations with West Bromwich Albion, while Arsenal star Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is also thought to be set to join his roster of clients.

Sterling has been public in crediting his agent for helping him improve as a footballer, for “getting inside my head” to help him to fulfil his potential.

However Lawrenson lamented the fact Sterling was “so badly advised”.

He said: “There were stories three months ago that he could play for Real Madrid, that he could play for Barcelona…. Absolute tosh, he’s a million miles away from that.”

Ward clearly plans to try to force Liverpool into selling the star, who currently earns £35,000-a-week, despite the manager’s insistence that he is not going anywhere.

The club’s handling of the contract situation has however been criticised, especially as Sterling was not offered an improved deal after they challenged for the title last season.

And his relationship with the club appeared to sour significantly after telling the BBC he was not a “money-grabbing 20-year-old” but wanted to “win trophies”.

Nevertheless, Souness said the striker should stay at the club.

He told Sky Sports: “At the end of the day, he’s maybe being advised by people who have the wrong priorities – right now it’s all about him learning how to play the game, understanding the game and improving.

“Nothing is ever set in stone but he’s privately making it known that he wants to leave Liverpool then that news will get out and the fans will be entitled to turn on him.”