Raheem Sterling set for £49m Man City transfer

He said: “The situation now is very simple”.

The move is still subject to contract negotiations and a medical but the two clubs have agreed a fee for £49million with add ons.

“City’s two previous bids – the last of which was worth around £40 million – were rejected by the Reds who have always insisted they value Sterling at £50 million”.

It had been reported that he had asked Rodgers if he could be excused from the pre-season tour, although he was initially named in the squad until Sunday’s developments.

Rodgers refused to be drawn on whether Liverpool would re-invest that cash windfall on a replacement for Sterling.

Liverpool have reached an agreement with Manchester City over the £49m transfer of Raheem Sterling.

The ex- Wycombe winger was sent out on loan to Derby being being recalled in January, and was one of the few players who impressed during a miserable season for the Reds.

“I spoke to Raheem at length before we left, and there’s no issue there”. In addition to Sterling’s proposed wages, the deal will cost City in the region of £100m, as over five years the Golden Boy victor will pick up around £46.8m in earnings.

“It was important to improve and build the squad for the season”.

“It’s the overall team that is important”.

While the relationship clearly wasn’t “very strong”, as Rodgers would have us believe, too much has been made of the player-manager conflict. “Subject to a medical that will go through”, Rodgers said.

Sterling’s agent Aidy Ward became public enemy number one on Merseyside, after becoming vocal in expressing his client’s desire to leave Liverpool. Sterling then responded by sitting out of training, claiming that he was ill.

Sterling’s involvement in the tour comes after he failed to report to the club’s Melwood base for pre-season work on Wednesday and Thursday, citing illness, before turning up on Friday.

“I’m not happy with all that carry-on”. He needs to go in and see the owners.

Sterling joined Liverpool from QPR’s academy as a 15-year-old in 2010 for an initial £500,000 with the sell-on clause included as part of the deal.