Raheem Sterling will not travel on Liverpool pre-season tour as Manchester City close in on £45m deal for wantaway England star

  • Manchester City have tabled what they believe is a deal-clinching bid
  • Manuel Pellegrini's side have offered £45million for Raheem Sterling
  • The England international will miss Liverpool's pre-season tour  
  • Sterling has said goodbye to his Liverpool team-mates ahead of move
  • Liverpool made decision to withdraw Sterling from flight to Asia 
  • Click HERE for all the latest transfer news  

Manchester City have tabled what they hope is a deal-clinching £45million move for Raheem Sterling.

City believe they have made a vital breakthrough in their swoop for the talented youngster during advanced talks this weekend and trying to bring the deal to a swift conclusion.

Manchester City sources have told Sportsmail a deal for the youngster is finally nearing completion and Sterling will not travel to Asia for Liverpool's pre-season tour.

Sportsmail understands Sterling has already said goodbye to his Liverpool team-mates. 

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Manchester City have made a third bid for Liverpool's wantaway attacking forward Raheem Sterling

Manchester City have made a third bid for Liverpool's wantaway attacking forward Raheem Sterling

Manuel Pellegrini's side are confident of concluding a £45m deal to sign the England international

Manuel Pellegrini's side are confident of concluding a £45m deal to sign the England international

Sterling will miss Liverpool's pre-season tour
City have already had two offers of £35m and £40m rejected for Sterling - who wants to leave Liverpool

City have already had two offers of £35m and £40m rejected for Sterling - who wants to leave Liverpool

City have agreed to pay £45million for the England star, who has been Manuel Pellegrini's target No 1 summer target. 

The next step for the recently deposed Barclays Premier League champions will be to agree personal terms with Sterling, who will miss the club's summer tour. 

It is thought Liverpool made the decision to withdraw Sterling from their pre-season tour of Asia after the wantaway forward arrived at Melwood training ground along with his team-mates.   

Liverpool had been holding out for £50m, however Manchester City believe the rift between Sterling and Brendan Rodgers will enable them to land the youngster for just shy of their rival's asking price. 

Manchester City boss Pellegrini is looking to bolster his attacking options ahead of the new season

Manchester City boss Pellegrini is looking to bolster his attacking options ahead of the new season

Steven Gerrard has hit out at Sterling, saying there isn't 'any need for' his behaviour towards the club

Steven Gerrard has hit out at Sterling, saying there isn't 'any need for' his behaviour towards the club

Manchester City have had offers of £35m and £40m rejected for the former Queens Park Rangers starlet. 

Sterling came under criticism from former Liverpool team-mate Steven Gerrard earlier this week due to his recent behaviour. 

Gerrard, speaking to Sky Sports News, said: 'I'm not happy with all that carry-on. He needs to go in and see the owners. You don't have to throw in illness, or refuse to go on tour.

City believe they don't have to match Liverpool's £50m asking price due to Sterling's relationship with Rodgers

City believe they don't have to match Liverpool's £50m asking price due to Sterling's relationship with Rodgers

'There are millions of Liverpool fans waiting to see Raheem pull on a Liverpool shirt.

'It looks very disappointing from where I'm sat. The fans have shown him great support, they want him to stay and I believe that he should too.

'It's very difficult for me to sit here and support him and the team around him...what they're trying to do with his career at a young age.

'It'll be a terrible shame if he goes somewhere and doesn't kick on as a player.

'It's slightly disappointing how far the situation has gone - but the only way I can see for him is out at the moment.' 

HOW IT ALL TURNED SOUR FOR RAHEEM STERLING AT LIVERPOOL

February 2010

Liverpool beat off competition from Manchester United, Manchester City and Arsenal to sign 15-year-old Sterling from Queens Park Rangers for an initial fee of around £500,000.

February 2011

Sterling scored five goals in Liverpool's 9-0 win over Southend in an FA Youth Cup.

March 2012

At the age of 17 years and 107 days, Sterling made his senior debut by coming on as a substitute in Liverpool's 2-1 defeat by Wigan. Then manager Kenny Dalglish brough the teenager on for Dirk Kuyt with six minutes to go.

October 2012

Sterling scored his first competitive goal for Liverpool at senior level against Reading at Anfield. His 29th-minute strike earned Brendan Rodgers' side a 1-0 victory.

April 2014

After nearly a full season of playing time for the first team, Sterling became a key part of Liverpool's title charge and scored three big goals in this month. First, he left Vincent Kompany and Joe Hart for dead in a 3-2 win over Manchester City at Anfield and was then the difference a week later in a 3-2 win over Norwich.

June 2014

Sterling was one of few positives to emerge for England from a disappointing World Cup campaign. The Liverpool forward played in all three group games in Brazil.

August 2014

Sterling picked up where he left off from the previous season by scoring two goals in three games - one in a 2-1 win over Southampon at Anfield and the other at White Hart Lane in a 3-0 victory.

October 2014

After a busy start to the season with Liverpool, Sterling claimed he was 'too tired' to play for England. He played 45 minutes against San Marino before being substituted and came off the bench for the final half hour against Estonia a few days later.

January 2015

Sterling was given a mid-season break by Liverpool manager Rodgers to prevent him from burnout after a lot of playing time in the first half of the campaign and a World Cup the summer before. Sterling went on holiday to Jamaica and missed two matches during his time away.

April 2015

In an interview with the BBC, Sterling revealed he rejected a new Liverpool contract. The teenager also added that he wanted to win things and his decision was not about money.

In response, Rodgers said in a press conference that Sterling would not be going anywhere.

May 2015

Sterling tells Rodgers he wants to leave Liverpool despite there being one more game left in the season.

Sterling is booed by the away fans during Liverpool's 6-1 defeat at Stoke on the final day of the season.  

Sterling's agent claims Sterling will not sign a new contract with the club, who respond by canceling a scheduled meeting with star and his representative. 

June 2015

Sterling is booed by home fans during England's friendly with the Republic of Ireland. 

Liverpool reject two bids - the second worth £40m - for Sterling from Man City.  

July 2015

Sterling returns to pre-season training but tells Rodgers he doesn't want to go on the club's tour.

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