Liverpool reject £30million offer from Manchester City for Raheem Sterling

Raheem Sterling

Manchester City have launched their summer spending spree with an opening bid of £30million for Liverpool winger Raheem Sterling.

The £25m up front and £5m in add-ons offer was instantly rejected by the Anfield club, who value the 20-year-old at closer to £50m.

City are expected to return with an improved bid but Liverpool will no doubt refer them to the words of their manager Manuel Pellegrini, who told Sportsmail in March: ‘Can you get Raheem Sterling? Maybe if you go to Liverpool with £100m you can.’  

Sterling has refused to sign a new contract at Liverpool and his agent Aidy Ward has made it clear the England international has no intention of staying. City made their approach earlier this week. 

Former Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard this week called on Sterling to commit himself to Liverpool rather than risk becoming a squad player at City or another big club.  

Gerrard, who is heading to Los Angeles Galaxy this summer, said: 'Liverpool is the place for him to learn for the next few years.

'I think there's a position there for him to be the No 1 player in the Liverpool team and really have that adulation from supporters that the likes of Luis Suarez and Fernando Torres have experienced.

'I don't want to see him go another team and just become a squad player and just another number in the team, I think he deserves to be playing every week.'  

City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak has vowed to spend lavishly this summer, with Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba and Wolfsburg’s Kevin de Bruyne also high on their wishlist. 

‘We’re a club players want to play for,’ said Al Mubarak. ‘We had to pay big premiums for players when we weren’t in Europe. We’re in a different position. We’re an institution today.’

Liverpool, meanwhile, are considering a £6m offer for Burnley striker Danny Ings to avoid a tribunal, having had an initial £4.5m offer rejected.