Raheem Sterling would have thrived under Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool claims agent Aidy Ward

Manchester City winger Raheem Sterling would have "100%" worked well under new Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp had the England international remained at Anfield, according to the player's agent Aidy Ward. The 20-year-old left Merseyside in the summer transfer window after a breakdown in trust between Sterling and former boss Brendan Rodgers.

Ward regularly publicly criticised Rodgers during the summer as Sterling deliberated over signing a new contract with the Reds. The representative accused the Northern Irish boss of playing a central role in Sterling's eventual departure to City, for a reported £49m ($75.8m) according to BBC Sport, the highest fee ever paid for an English player.

Rodgers was sacked in early October and replaced by Klopp, who arrived at Liverpool with a fine reputation after seven successful years with Borussia Dortmund. Ward believes Sterling would still be at the club had the German been manager and that the pair would have worked well together.

"The new Liverpool manager probably would have been a great fit for Raheem – passionate, disciplined in the right way, new ideas, not afraid of trying new things," Ward told the Daily Mail. "He'll do great at Liverpool. Would Raheem under Klopp have been a good scenario? Yes, 100%, definitely, mainly because of the person Klopp is – the passion, the drive, the emotion, wanting to achieve.

"Raheem has all of this, but you won't always see it outwardly. Working with Klopp – that could have been great. He's going to get the best out of those players. It could have been a dream come true.

"Raheem could've stayed, he should be at Liverpool. I think for me it was like he was being told to be a good boy and sign a contract. In December I spoke to Liverpool and said we'll sign a contract if there is a buy-out clause – those clauses are now common practice. They said no to that.

"Then there was an underhandedness, there were sly remarks. In press conferences, Brendan told everyone Raheem would sign – why do that? I knew, Brendan knew and Liverpool knew there was an issue. Right now he probably should be a Liverpool player, but he's not and he's in a great place at City."