Raheem Sterling has confirmed that he has rejected an improved  contract offer of about £100,000-a-week from Liverpool.

The 20-year-old forward has been in the news recently after reports emerged that he is ready to leave Liverpool this summer.

In an interview with BBC Sports, Sterling  confirmed the reports that he had turned the new contract offer before adding, "It's not about the money at all".

"It's never been about money. I talk about winning trophies throughout my career. That's all I talk about," he said in the in-depth interview with BBC.

"I don't talk about how many cars I'm going to drive, how many houses I've got. I just purely want to be the best I can be.

"I don't want to be perceived as a money-grabbing 20-year-old.

"I try to kill it off, but I don't think the public can see it that way.

"I think they just see it as this 20-year-old boy being greedy," Sterling said.

He revealed that while he would have signed a new contract straightway last year even with lesser pay, he now wants to have a long rethink before making further decision on his career.

"I just want to take the time to think about what I've achieved in my career so far, where I need to go and what I need to do to get better as a player.

"Everyone's dream growing up is seeing themselves in an away kit somewhere in a sunny country. But, in reality, I'm happy to be playing for Liverpool and trying to win trophies.'

"If, at that point in time [last season], I was offered a contract, I most definitely would have signed straight away, probably for far less money than being said now.

'" just think the timing was a bit off,' he said.

Arsenal has been linked with the 'want-away' star and the Liverpool star forward the reports of the London club's interest on him is 'quite flattering' sparking reports that he would prefer a move to the Arsene Wenger led club.