Raheem Sterling on verge of Liverpool exit as Manchester City close in on £45m deal to sign wantaway England star- Manchester City have tabled what they believe is a deal-clinching bid
- Manuel Pellegrini's side have offered £45million for Raheem Sterling
- The England international looks set to miss Liverpool's pre-season tour
Manchester City have tabled what they hope is a deal-clinching £45million move for Raheem Sterling.City believe they have made a vital breakthrough in their swoop for the talented youngster during advanced talks this weekend and trying to bring the deal to a swift conclusion.Manchester City sources have told Sportsmail a deal for the youngster is finally nearing completion
City have agreed to pay £45million for the England star, who has been Manuel Pellegrini's target No 1 summer target.
The next step for the recently deposed Barclays Premier League champions will be to agree personal terms with Sterling, who is now set to miss the club's summer tour.
If Liverpool accept the bid and bring the biggest transfer saga of the summer to an early close, Sterling will not get on the flight on Sunday.Sources close to the player said it was '50-50' whether he would catch the plane with the rest of the Liverpool squad on Sunday morning. Sterling is adamant that he wants to leave Liverpool and is desperate for the situation to be resolved before the club departs.
But the 20-year-old, who missed training last week because of sickness, is also thought to accept that if Liverpool reject City's latest bid, he will have to board the plane.
Liverpool had been holding out for £50m, however Manchester City believe the rift between Sterling and Brendan Rodgers will enable them to land the youngster for just shy of their rival's asking price. Manchester City have had offers of £35m and £40m rejected for the former Queens Park Rangers starlet. Sterling came under criticism from former Liverpool team-mate Steven Gerrard earlier this week due to his recent behaviour.
Gerrard, speaking to Sky Sports News, said: 'I'm not happy with all that carry-on. He needs to go in and see the owners. You don't have to throw in illness, or refuse to go on tour.
'There are millions of Liverpool fans waiting to see Raheem pull on a Liverpool shirt.
'It looks very disappointing from where I'm sat. The fans have shown him great support, they want him to stay and I believe that he should too.
'It's very difficult for me to sit here and support him and the team around him...what they're trying to do with his career at a young age.
'It'll be a terrible shame if he goes somewhere and doesn't kick on as a player.
'It's slightly disappointing how far the situation has gone - but the only way I can see for him is out at the moment.'
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3158051/Raheem-Sterling-edges-closer-Liverpool-exit-Manchester-City-remain-confident-concluding-45m-deal-wantaway-star.html#ixzz3fflwaNOe
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