Sterling VS Liverpool

The youngster has told Brendan Rodgers he is not
ready to join his team-mates on their tour of
Australia and south east Asia, with Manchester City
now expected to make a third bid
Raheem Sterling has told Liverpool he does not
want to join the squad on their upcoming pre-
season tour of Australia and south east Asia as he
attempts to force a summer exit,
Manchester City are clear front-runners for his
signature and are willing to make a third bid of £45
million, including add-ons, after their first two
approaches were knocked back by Liverpool.
The Blues have been waiting on Sterling's next
move before launching a fresh bid and while the
Reds have refused to comment on the situation,
Sports Inn understands the 20-year-old's decision to tell
Brendan Rodgers he is not in the right frame of
mind to travel on tour could spark activity at the
Etihad Stadium.

Sterling is one of City's top transfer targets this
summer, along with Juventus' Paul Pogba and
Wolfsburg's Kevin De Bruyne, but so far they have
been unable to seal any deals.
While Sterling's row with Liverpool plays out in
public, City look to be behind Barcelona in the race
to sign Pogba despite a willingness to break the
world transfer record, and the club are also
awaiting developments on De Bruyne's contract
talks with Wolfsburg before showing their hand.
But progress is now expected in their pursuit of
Sterling after the youngster sat down with Rodgers
at Melwood to reaffirm his desire to leave Anfield
and insist he is not prepared to join up with his
team-mates in their overseas pre-season
preparations.
Liverpool are due to fly out on Sunday ahead of a
game against the Thai All Stars in Bangkok next
Tuesday, with matches against A-League outfits
Brisbane and Adelaide next up before they face a
Malaysia XI in Kuala Lumpur.
The Reds have signed six players already this
summer as they look to improve on last season's
sixth-placed finish, with Roberto Firmino, James
Milner, Nathaniel Clyne, Danny Ings, Joe Gomez
and Adam Bogdan already recruited.
The club are also expected to launch a bid for
Aston Villa striker Christian Benteke, although his
asking price remains fixed at £32.5m.