Reds prepared to play hardball in Raheem Sterling transfer.
SEE ALSO:
Top 50 summer transfer targets: Pogba, Bale, £50m Liverpool rebel & £28m Man Utd star among MOST wanted
Top 20 young footballers in the world according to Football Manager: Liverpool’s Sterling & Man Utd ace behind Real Madrid teen
Liverpool blog
Liverpool are reportedly set to reject a third offer from Manchester City for want-away star player Raheem Sterling this summer, according to the Daily Mirror.
BBC Sport first claimed City had failed with a £25m offer for the Reds ace on the 11th of June. A week later, BBC Sport again stated that City had a bid turned down, this time for £35.5m with add-ons to see the deal rise to around £40m.
The Guardian reported this week that Sterling had missed training with Liverpool due to sickness, though it is widely believed that the 20-year-old is trying to force the move through by making life difficult for his current club.
Still, in this latest report from the Mirror, it seems Liverpool will still not be ready to do business with City unless they meet their asking price of £50m, with an offer of £40m plus £4m in add-ons likely to be snubbed by the Merseyside giants.
Instead, Liverpool may well let Sterling play in their reserves for much of next season, in an attempt to punish the England international for his behaviour and perhaps decrease his chances of a big move later on, with clubs like City surely less willing to spend big on a player not featuring regularly at the top level of the Premier League.
The Mirror adds that Liverpool are hoping to fine Sterling over this act of indiscipline, with the player also making it clear he does not want to go on the club’s pre-season tour in the Far East.