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And so, the Raheem Sterling saga comes to an inevitable, but no less sudden, end. On Saturday, he was named on the pre-season tour and expected to be on the outgoing flight to Bangkok; 24 hours later, he is a Manchester City player, bar the shouting.

The shouting is happening elsewhere, of course. Some believe the deal, potentially worth up to £49m, is a brilliant bit of business for the club, and went to bed chuckling at City’s exuberant expenditure; others have been less welcoming to the sale, heralding it as another step backwards as the Reds try to climb the Premier League once again.

As always, in football, there is no right or wrong answer yet. Only the future, and the benefit of hindsight, will reveal the full story.

Here are the pros and cons behind the Sterling sale.

IN PICS: Raheem Sterling's Liverpool FC career

Pros

LIVERPOOL (ALMOST) GET WHAT THEY (SORT OF) WANTED

£49m.

The comparisons have been made already. £49m was enough to buy one Zinedine Zidane, four Cristiano Ronaldos (the one with blonde tips in his hair), and nearly 52 Kenny Dalglishes.

This, of course, doesn’t account for inflation or the changing, gluttonous landscape of the football world.

And, as much as Reds fans would like it to be so, there is not 52 Kenny Dalglishes.

It still should not detract, however, from what a monstrous fee Liverpool have received – albeit with a percentage going to QPR, as per the terms of the deal struck between the two clubs when Sterling moved to Anfield in 2010.

It makes Sterling the most expensive English player ever, and the 12th most costly in history. It is also, in some way, vindication of Liverpool’s intent to develop players and turn them into highly-coveted stars.

ONE LESS DISTRACTION

The uncertainty surrounding Sterling was most definitely unsettling. On Saturday, he was expected to be flying out to take part in pre-season preparations. If City had not entered talks with the club, the stories on the back page would have involved his participation – or non-participation – in the Far East and Australia.

It would have been a distraction, and Brendan Rodgers can ill-afford distraction. The Liverpool boss begins what is, undoubtedly, his most important season at Anfield. To have a player on the tour who may not be there would have been an issue; to have to answer questions on why he wasn’t, arguably worse.

It has been a difficult summer for the Reds. Their captain has gone and speculation ran riot regarding the future of both the manager and the general direction of the club. Pre-season training would have been a welcome freshener for all.

And now, with Sterling on his way to City, the focus can fall upon those who are with the team, rather than those who are not.

DEAL DONE QUICKLY

Liverpool have been praised for the speed of their incoming deals this summer, their intent to avoid a repeat of last season’s August scramble for a striker evident.

It had become a running problem. Even in Rodgers’ first summer, Liverpool spent so long trying to coax Clint Dempsey to Anfield, it ultimately ended with them spending nothing as the American moved to Tottenham instead.

Selling Sterling now allows time to plan their next move. With Aston Villa holding firm, for now, on number one target Christian Benteke, they might need it.

A CHANCE FOR OTHERS TO SHINE

Sterling was a phenomenal talent but his move could help his former team-mates, in particular Jordon Ibe and Lazar Markovic.

The duo are not at Sterling’s level yet, of course. But Ibe is a year younger, while the Serb is nine months older. If Sterling is expected to develop further, then so should Liverpool’s other two wide men.

WATCH: Markovic nails Raheem Sterling in keepy-up challenge

There was always debate around Sterling’s best position. Naturally a fit out wide, he arguably was at his most impressive when through the centre. With Roberto Firmino, Philippe Coutinho and Adam Lallana also vying for that role behind the striker, Sterling would have likely been shifted out wide – frustrating for both supporters and player.

But Ibe and Markovic are both wide men in the traditional sense. One is strong, the other fleet-footed; one exceeding expectation, the other falling below. The absence of Sterling, however, could give them a chance to develop with minutes on the pitch – something Markovic, in particular, would welcome.

Cons

HE IS A TOP TALENT STRENGTHENING A RIVAL

Make no mistake, Sterling is an incredible talent. The ink had not yet touched City’s contract and some were keen to rewrite history, claiming the 20-year-old wasn’t that pretty or clever or ever that good anyway. We are finishing with YOU, they said.

Granted, he had a difficult final few months, but that was a by-product of his contract dispute, rather than any lack of effort. But while there is no guarantee he would rediscover his form from the end of 2013-14, there is no saying what he could still become with his potential unlimited.

During his time at the club, he scored or created a goal once every 220 minutes, a remarkable ratio for a player not long out of his teenage years. His finishing was often poor, but that can be worked upon; he is quick, strong, direct and has the ability to change the game in an instant.

Worse still, he moves to Manchester City, a team who Liverpool hope to be competing against this season. His departure weakens Liverpool, and strengthens a rival.

NO PROMISE OF GOOD REINVESTMENT

Sterling has been sold, Liverpool have pocketed a considerable sum of money. That, as history dictates, is only half the battle.

The £50m received for Fernando Torres went on Luis Suarez and Andy Carroll. The £75m for Suarez on a whole load of, as of now, unfulfilled potential.

The Reds have already spent on Firmino, Nathaniel Clyne and Joe Gomez, with Danny Ings’ fee still to be determined, but they need more. The fee for Sterling, if nothing else, goes towards those.

There is more money to be spent – but it is not about how much, but how well. The fee received means nothing if it, like last year, is placed on potential.

SYMBOLISM

Under FSG, Liverpool have overseen the departures of Torres, Suarez and Sterling for almost £175m – an eye-watering sum.

But what could be worth more than that is the reputation Liverpool are getting. If they are not a selling club, then they are a club who is open to selling their top players.

No one can argue with the fees received for the trio, but Liverpool have now lost three big players in the past four-and-a-half years.

What’s worse, two of them are domestic rivals, clubs who until recently were not considered on their level. Now, both have recent title wins and qualify for the Champions League routinely. Liverpool do not.

To some, selling Sterling is further confirmation of the club’s new-found status in the footballing food chain.

WARD GETS HIS DEAL

Well done, Aidy Ward. After months of hard work, he finally gets what he wanted, for both himself and client.

His actions were not exactly Machiavellian. Rock the boat, upset the apple cart, tip Liverpool over the edge. Job done.

Ward cannot, and should not, be presented as the lone instigator in this saga. Sterling would appear to be a more than willing accomplice.

But the blueprint has now been drawn up for how to get a client what he wants. With it, a nice cut of the transfer value which – including wages – is around the £100m.