Manchester United may have hogged the headlines with their high-profile purchases of late, but Manchester City could finally celebrate securing their No 1 target Raheem Sterling on Tuesday.
The England winger put an end to one of the most acrimonious transfer sagas of modern times by completing his £49million move from Liverpool.
Liverpool have reached an agreement with Manchester City over the £49m transfer of Raheem Sterling.
The transfer of the 20-year-old England winger is subject to contract negotiations and a medical.
Raheem Sterling has again missed training at Liverpool, having told the club’s manager, Brendan Rodgers, he no longer wants to play for him.
Sterling missed Wednesday’s training session citing illness, and again phoned in sick on Thursday. The club did not offer any comment, though the medical department has been asked to verify Sterling’s claim, which is standard procedure.
Raheem Sterling has left Brendan Rodgers in no doubt over his determination to push for a transfer to Manchester City by informing the Liverpool manager he wants to be left out of the pre-season tour of the Far East and Australia.
The England forward has held talks with the Liverpool manager since returning to training on Monday. It is understood he not only reiterated his desire to leave this summer but asked to be omitted from the two-week trip to Thailand, Australia and Malaysia.
Liverpool have formally rejected a second bid from Manchester City for England forward Raheem Sterling.
It is understood the new offer was a basic £35.5m, which would have risen to nearer £40m when various extras were added.
Manchester City have made an improved £40m offer for Raheem Sterling, but Liverpool are expected to reject the latest bid.
Having had an offer of £25m plus £5m worth of add-ons turned down last week, City have upped what they are willing to pay by £10m. However, that still falls short of the £50m minimum Liverpool believe the 20-year-old is worth and they are likely to turn down the offer.
Steven Gerrard has called on Raheem Sterling to make a decision on his future as soon as possible and has urged him to remain at Liverpool.
Sterling has already turned down Liverpool’s £100,000-a-week offer and there have been suggestions from his agent Aidy Ward that he will reject any offer that is put before him.
Rafael Benitez said he “admires” Liverpool forward Raheem Sterling at the news conference to confirm his appointment as Real Madrid manager.
The ex-Liverpool manager has ended a two-year stint with Napoli, signing a three-year contract at the Bernabeu with the promise of “quality football” which “wins trophies”.
Brendan Rodgers has said he expects Raheem Sterling to continue to play for Liverpool for the final two years of his contract, despite the furore surrounding the England winger’s future.
Sterling’s agent, Aidy Ward, was quoted on Thursday as saying his client would not sign a contact at Liverpool “for £700,000, £800,000, £900,000 a week”, with the comments prompting the club to cancel talks due to take place on Friday.
Liverpool have cancelled contract talks with Raheem Sterling after his agent was quoted as saying that the England winger would “definitely not be signing” a new contract, even if he was offered £900,000 a week.
Aidy Ward, who represents Sterling, was due to meet the Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers and chief executive Ian Ayre on Friday to discuss his client’s contract situation but after the emergence of Ward’s comments, the Merseyside club have put discussions on hold.
Nigeria Gists 