Liverpool legend: Raheem Sterling wouldn't get a look-in at Arsenal or Chelsea

That is the view of Reds legend Graeme Souness.

Contract rebel Sterling has yet to put pen paper on a new deal after rejecting the club's opening offer of £100,000 a week.

Sterling has been linked to a cluster of clubs including Chelsea and Arsenal.

After giving an interview to BBC last week, Sterling admitted he has been 'flatted' by the Gunners' interest.

Despite his excellent displays for Liverpool this term, Souness issued a stark warning to the 20-year-old.

"We still talk about Walcott as "promising young Theo", but he is 26 now," Souness wrote in his column for The Sunday Times.

"It's time for him to deliver on a regular basis, yet he can't get into their team.

"When do you stop talking about potential? If Sterling goes to Arsenal, will the same happen to him? To get better you have to be playing all the time - and he is doing that at Liverpool.

"He's already a fabulous little player, with potential to be a top man on the biggest stages. He's powerful, brave, lightning quick and has more than enough technique.

"There's a lot to like about him. Yet the game now elevates young men who have done very little to superstardom way before their time, and some of them, unless they are getting the right advice, can be extremely difficult to deal with."