Oliver Kay Chief Football Correspondent
Last updated at 9:15PM, June 11 2015
Liverpool have rejected a projected £30 million offer from Manchester City for Raheem Sterling, the unsettled England forward.
City made their move earlier this week, offering a guaranteed £25 million, plus £5 million in potential future payments. The Merseyside club value the 20-year-old at more than £50 million and maintain that they will not consider selling for less than that sum.
Liverpool have still not given up hope of persuading Sterling to sign a new contract, despite the claim from Aidy Ward, his agent, last month that the player would not extend his deal “even if they offered him £900,000 a week”. However, the growing sense of acrimony between the club and the player, who informed Brendan Rodgers last month of his desire to leave, has led Liverpool’s hierarchy to consider a sale.
Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United also hold an interest in Sterling, who has rejected Liverpool’s £100,000-a-week offer to extend his contract, which expires in June 2017. The player has also made clear his eagerness to play Champions League football next season.
City have made Sterling a key target as they look to add young English talent to their squad, but they believe that their projected £30 million offer was fair and, while prepared to invest heavily in a summer rebuilding programme, they do not plan to meet Liverpool’s asking price.
Along with Sterling, City have identified Paul Pogba, the Juventus and France midfield player, and Kevin de Bruyne, the Wolfsburg and Belgium winger, as prime targets this summer.
Khaldoon al-Mubarak, the City chairman, said on Wednesday: “You will see us in the market bringing in high-quality individuals to fit in with what we are aspiring to. I can assure you this squad will be stronger and the team will be more confident. I am confident and excited about what is coming next year.”
Joe Hart, the City goalkeeper, expects the club to pursue English talent this summer to ensure that they are able to meet Premier League and Uefa quotas on home-grown players. “It will be top of [the hierarchy’s] list to bring in English players or to promote some of the lads [from the youth academy,” he said.
The City goalkeeper expressed disappointment at the departure of James Milner, his England team-mate, to Liverpool on a free transfer. The Merseyside club have also signed Danny Ings from Burnley and are close to completing the free transfer of Adam Bogdan, the Bolton Wanderers goalkeeper.
Last updated at 9:15PM, June 11 2015
Liverpool have rejected a projected £30 million offer from Manchester City for Raheem Sterling, the unsettled England forward.
City made their move earlier this week, offering a guaranteed £25 million, plus £5 million in potential future payments. The Merseyside club value the 20-year-old at more than £50 million and maintain that they will not consider selling for less than that sum.
Liverpool have still not given up hope of persuading Sterling to sign a new contract, despite the claim from Aidy Ward, his agent, last month that the player would not extend his deal “even if they offered him £900,000 a week”. However, the growing sense of acrimony between the club and the player, who informed Brendan Rodgers last month of his desire to leave, has led Liverpool’s hierarchy to consider a sale.
Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United also hold an interest in Sterling, who has rejected Liverpool’s £100,000-a-week offer to extend his contract, which expires in June 2017. The player has also made clear his eagerness to play Champions League football next season.
City have made Sterling a key target as they look to add young English talent to their squad, but they believe that their projected £30 million offer was fair and, while prepared to invest heavily in a summer rebuilding programme, they do not plan to meet Liverpool’s asking price.
Along with Sterling, City have identified Paul Pogba, the Juventus and France midfield player, and Kevin de Bruyne, the Wolfsburg and Belgium winger, as prime targets this summer.
Khaldoon al-Mubarak, the City chairman, said on Wednesday: “You will see us in the market bringing in high-quality individuals to fit in with what we are aspiring to. I can assure you this squad will be stronger and the team will be more confident. I am confident and excited about what is coming next year.”
Joe Hart, the City goalkeeper, expects the club to pursue English talent this summer to ensure that they are able to meet Premier League and Uefa quotas on home-grown players. “It will be top of [the hierarchy’s] list to bring in English players or to promote some of the lads [from the youth academy,” he said.
The City goalkeeper expressed disappointment at the departure of James Milner, his England team-mate, to Liverpool on a free transfer. The Merseyside club have also signed Danny Ings from Burnley and are close to completing the free transfer of Adam Bogdan, the Bolton Wanderers goalkeeper.
