Liverpool are braced for another bid from Manchester City for want-away winger Raheem Sterling despite rejecting one offer already, the Independent reports.
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It was reported by Sky Sports on Thursday night that the Reds had snubbed an opening offer of around £25m plus add-ons from City and are understood to want at least double that.
The fee may prove to be a stumbling block in negotiations between the two clubs as City are not prepared to go as high as £50m, however they will return with an improved offer over the weekend give their desire to add home-grown players to the squad.
Sterling, who has two years left on his contract, is expected to depart Anfield in the summer after his public refusal to sign a new deal (via BBC Sport) and it would appear the Reds are prepared to listen to offers despite their previous stance that they would not be selling the 20-year-old this summer, with the Independent stating that there is not the same degree of resistance to the player’s exit as Liverpool showed when attempting to keep Luis Suarez at the club two years ago.
City will be hoping to make some progress with this move as they look to improve on their number of ‘homegrown’ players, with the Independent article adding that it is an ‘open secret’ that the club would like to address this particular issue, and Real Madrid supposedly cooling their interest could give them an advantage.
The England international has struggled for form in the last few months and will be hoping to silence a few doubters in the Euro 2016 qualifier against Slovenia at the weekend.