Liverpool have rejected a bid of £35m plus £5m in add-ons for youngster Raheem Sterling, according to The Guardian.
David Anderson of The Mirror says that City don’t want to go higher than £40m as they think they’re the only club bidding for him, and that Sterling’s wish to join them plays a factor.
But the Reds won’t budge from their £50m valuation of the player, and have maintained that they don’t wish to sell him.
Chelsea and Arsenal had also been linked with the the 20-year-old, but City are the only formal bidders thus far.
It was previously reported by Anderson that Liverpool are keen to finalise a deal for Sterling’s Anfield departure in order to fund moves for Christian Benteke and Nathaniel Clyne.
Anderson had said that the transfer will allow deals for Aston Villa forward Benteke and Southampton full-back Clyne to be completed, as “they do not have enough cash for both at present”.
Last week, Aston Villa chief executive Tom Fox suggested that Belgian striker Benteke would be offered a new contract at the club, but the Reds still prioritise him as a “main target”.
“My agent knows my ambition,” Benteke said two weeks ago. “I want to play in the Champions League. That’s a dream and my ambition.”
“It’s about [my agent]. He knows what I want and I’ll let him do the job. I don’t think about Aston Villa now.”
Chelsea and Manchester United are also both said to be interested.
Clyne meanwhile, is set for Liverpool according to Paul Joyce of The Express, as Southampton are looking for a new right-back.
