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Raheem Sterling targeted with vile racist abuse on Twitter and WhatsApp from Liverpool fans after his mobile phone number is leaked online

A small section of Liverpool fans bombarded Sterling with abusive messages and have been condemned by other supporters of the Merseyside club

Jack de Menezes

Thursday 09 July 2015 10:58 BST

Raheem Sterling returned to Liverpool training on Monday (Getty Images)

Raheem Sterling has been targeted with racially abusive messages on Twitter and WhatsApp by a selection of angry Liverpool fans after his mobile phone number was leaked online.

The 20-year-old missed pre-season training on Wednesday after falling “ill” and is not expected to attend Liverpool’s Melwood training base again today, having already informed the club that he does not wish to be included on their pre-season tour of Australia and the Far East.

That news triggered an onslaught of abuse aimed in Sterling’s direction, and the “complete breakdown” in the relationship between him and manager Brendan Rodgers, as claimed by his agent Aidy Ward, has led to so-called fans turning on Sterling and aiming vile abuse and racial slurs in his direction.

Who could Liverpool sign to replace Raheem Sterling?

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1/7Who could Liverpool sign to replace Raheem Sterling?

Who could Liverpool sign to replace Raheem Sterling?

Felipe Anderson

The Lazio midfielder has enjoyed his breakthrough season in Italy this year, but that has alerted a number of clubs across Europe including Liverpool. The 22-year-old Brazilian is contracted to the Serie A club until 2020 and will therefore cost a significant amount if he were to move this summer, but it’s believed he has the potential to become one of the most dangerous attacking midfielders in the world if he continues his steep development curve.

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Who could Liverpool sign to replace Raheem Sterling?

Theo Walcott

Arsenal’s pace merchant is finding it hard to break back into the first team after recovering from the ruptured cruciate ligament that sidelined him for over a year. With doubts over his fitness, his suitability to the current Arsenal side and whether he’s a better option compared to his team-mates, rumours have linked him with a dramatic Arsenal exit. Liverpool would be one of the teams in for the England winger, who can also play in attack, and given that his speed can terrify any defence he would be a suitable option to replace Sterling.

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Who could Liverpool sign to replace Raheem Sterling?

Marco Reus

Any move for Reus appears to be hinged on firing Brendan Rodgers and hiring Jürgen Klopp, and given the noises coming out of Anfield, it’s unlikely to happen this summer. But if another transfer window goes belly-up, don’t be surprised to see Klopp at the club soon after with Reus in tow. The Germany international is a wonderfully gifted player who combines pace and skill to dazzle defences. He has struggled with a persistent ankle injury in recent months, but he would add a proven quality to the Liverpool ranks.

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Who could Liverpool sign to replace Raheem Sterling?

Divock Origi

Rodgers already knows one signing he will see arrive at Anfield in the summer as Belgium striker Divock Origi will complete the permanent move he agreed last year, having spent the season on loan with Lille. Rodgers could look to revert to the tactics he deployed last season when he had Luis Suarez to pair up with Daniel Sturridge, and although Origi is nowhere near the level Suarez was at present, the Northern Irishman will hope he has unearthed a gem when he arrives in the Premier League.

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Who could Liverpool sign to replace Raheem Sterling?

Alexandre Lacazette

The French forward is being courted by the likes of Manchester City and Chelsea, but Liverpool could look to show a sign of intent by launching a bid for him before their rivals. Lacazette is equally adept at playing as a striker or out wide, and it would depend on how Rodgers would choose to deploy him to where he would feature. The France international has helped Lyon secure second in Ligue 1 and will finish the season as top goalscorers barring any heroics from Andre-Pierre Gignac, who trails by six goals.

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Who could Liverpool sign to replace Raheem Sterling?

Jeremy Menez

Menez’s brother and agent has fuelled talk of a move away from AC Milan by admitting he is likely to leave this summer, and even addressed rumours of a move to Liverpool as well as Monaco. However, at this point in time they are just rumours, and despite being able to play out wide he is more suited to an attacking role through the middle.

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Who could Liverpool sign to replace Raheem Sterling?

Ezequiel Lavezzi

The Argentine has fallen off the radar in recent months, but his future at Paris Saint-Germain remains far from certain and a move to the Premier League has always appeared on the cards. At home out wide on the wing, Lavezzi can also do a job up front, and would bring a physicality to the attack that is currently missing in Sterling, Philippe Coutinho and Jordan Ibe.

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The attacks were compounded on Wednesday night when his mobile phone number was published on the internet, leading to his phone being flooded with insulting texts and WhatsApp messages. According to the Mirror, Sterling is believed to have taken screenshots of the attacks and is considering his options.

The England international was also targeted on Twitter with racially abusive message sent to his personal account. A Twitter user by the name of @BurlingtonBert_ posted: ““Raheem Sterling is very replaceable. There are plenty of black kids in London with chips on their shoulders.”

The abuse that Sterling, who is barely out of his teenage years, has received has led to him cutting down the amount of content that he posts on his social media account, and the midfielder has essentially stopped interacting with fans online. Other Liverpool fans condemned the racist abuse that he received, with some posts from other too offensive to repeat.

Sterling missed training on Wednesday (Getty Images)

While a small section of Liverpool fans can be seen to have sent Sterling awful messages, the majority of the club's supporters active on social media have condemned the attacks and claimed they are not true fans of the Anfield side.

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