Liverpool should continue to play hard ball with Raheem Sterling, whose attempts to get away from Anfield represent a tawdry and sad tale of our times.
His agent Aidy Ward should have been fired the moment he publicly insulted club legend Jamie Carragher, calling him a "knob".
Ward, who is paid to further the interests of his client, has instead exposed Sterling to hatred, ridicule and contempt.
But let's not waste too much more time on him. Sadly, hard-nosed economics will almost certainly dictate that Manchester City will get their man in the end, probably for close to the £50 million asking price.