Scholes: Sterling should stay

Cape Town - Paul Scholes believes that young English star Raheem Sterling should stay a Liverpool to continue his development.

The former Manchester United midfield star admits that he is not surprised that Liverpool have knocked back an enquiry from the Red Devils for Sterling.

Scholes, writing in his Independent column, says that while a move for Sterling would not be like signing a home-grown Liverpudlian, transfers between the clubs are rare. Scholes wrote "clearly selling to one another is not something the two clubs like to do".

Scholes believes that Sterling is a good player "but Liverpool looks like the best place to develop his talent" before adding that "there is still a lot of room for improvement".

On Thursday, Raheem Sterling's future at Liverpool was plunged into fresh doubt after the Premier League club reportedly cancelled a meeting to discuss a new contract for the unsettled forward.

After turning down a £100 000-a-week contract offer in January, Sterling is said to have decided to seek a transfer to a club playing in the Champions League next term, sparking a reported approach from Manchester United this week, while Manchester City, Arsenal, Chelsea and Real Madrid are also watching the situation with interest.