text: Michael Owen has warned Raheem Sterling that life after Liverpool may not be all he hopes it to be after the England youngster revealed this week that he had rejected a £100,000-a-week deal at Anfield. Owen, like Sterling, started his senior career at Liverpool but eventually moved on to Real Madrid in 2004. But he says the 20-year-old is not good enough to make the same move to the Spanish capital. Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester City are all said to be interested in the hottest property in English football, but Liverpool are determined not to let one of their star players leave, even with his contract expiring at the end of next season. Michael Owen has warned Raheem Sterling that leaving Liverpool may not be all he hopes it would be . Owen, like Sterling, started his senior career at Liverpool but eventually moved on to Real Madrid . Owen feels that Sterling is in a great place to develop, having done the same during his time at Anfield . Owen feels that Sterling is in a great place to develop, but argues that it doesn't mean the youngster owes the club anything. 'There is no question he (Sterling) has been at the perfect place to learn his trade and he has been managed fantastically well so far,' Owen said. 'But that shouldn't mean he should be indebted to the extent of feeling he owes everything to the club. If the club created top players from nothing then everyone would make it. 'A club is quick to get rid of a player when they don't serve a purpose anymore so why should a player not do what's best for him when the boot is on the other foot?' Owen scored 158 goals during his time at Liverpool, spending eight seasons on Merseyside until 2004 . Owen bursts away from Bruno Ngotty of Bolton Wanderers before he left Liverpool for Real Madrid . Owen left Liverpool for Real Madrid in a £16.8million move in 2004 before later moving on to Newcastle United . Sterling is expected to start for Liverpool in Saturday's lunchtime kick-off against Arsenal after Brendan Rodgers stated his intention to keep hold of the winger. And Owen says that the lack of a place in Real or Barcelona's teams mean that the only move he could make away from Anfield would be a sideways one. Sterling spoke in an interview with the BBC this week about his career ambitions and turning down the deal . The presence of Cristiano Ronaldo and co leave Owen unconvinced that a move to Spain would be right . 'Having watched him closely throughout his professional career, it it is fair to say that his progress has been spectacular,' he wrote on sportlobster. But he is still a notch or two off being "world class". 'I don't see what realistic options he has got if a move away from Anfield was on his mind. He wouldn't get into Real Madrid's or Barcelona's teams and any other move surely has to be seen as a move sidewards?'
target: Raheem Sterling has stalled over signing a new contract with Liverpool .
  Michael Owen says any viable move for winger would be a sideways one .
  Owen left Liverpool for Real Madrid in a £16.8million move in 2004 .
  He says Sterling does not owe his career to the Anfield club .