As Manchester City prepare a third bid to prise Raheem Sterling away from Liverpool, the Professional Footballers Association has said it is ready to mediate on the player's increasingly bitter stand-off with the Anfield club.
City have had two offers for the England striker rebuffed by Liverpool, but made contact with Anfield officials on Friday night and it is understood a new bid of £40 million plus £5 million in add-ons will be made over the weekend. This falls below Liverpool's £50 million valuation and is almost certain to be rejected.
Liverpool expect Sterling to abide by the terms of his contract and join the club’s pre-season tour of the Far East and Australia this weekend, but they are open to the idea of the PFA intervening on the matter to ensure the player's mood of rebellion is curbed.
It has not reached the stage where the PFA has been summoned yet, but Anfield officials are acutely aware of the possibility of Sterling failing to show up when their flight departs on Sunday afternoon given a recent catalogue of indiscretions.
Gordon Taylor, the PFA chief executive, is monitoring the situation and will try to defuse tensions if both parties consider it in their interest.
A similar PFA involvement proved useful in 2013, at the height of Luis Suarez’s dispute with Liverpool as he tried to push through a move to Arsenal. On that occasion, the PFA informed Suarez that – despite claims to the contrary – his contract clause did not enable him to leave Anfield for a fee over £40 million.
Suarez would resolve his dispute, sign a new deal with less ambiguous terms and enjoy his best season for the club prior to leaving for Barcelona for £75 million last summer. For all the animosity and dirty tricks played on Sterling’s behalf in the last few months, Liverpool would still welcome an about-turn to keep him on Merseyside, although that seems unlikely given City's relentless pursuit.
Sterling’s 48 hour absence from Liverpool training ended when he rejoined to the club’s pre-season preparations on Friday.
Sterling called in sick on Wednesday and Thursday, just days after informing manager Brendan Rodgers he did not want to travel with the squad on their summer tour.
Liverpool are ready to take disciplinary action against the 20-year-old if he does not turn up for Sunday's flight.