LONDON. – Manchester City are closing in on a £50 million deal for Raheem Sterling that will see him included in their pre-season tour of Australia.

Etihad bosses are confident of striking a deal with Liverpool for the England winger before the end of next week.

It is doubtful an agreement will be reached before Manuel Pellegrini’s squad leave tomorrow, but the Chilean remains hopeful Sterling will link-up with his men midway through the tour.

City have seen two bids of up to £40 million rejected, with the Reds holding out for £50 million.

City chairman Khaldoon Al-Mubarak is willing to meet the asking price and knows agreeing personal terms with Sterling will be a formality.

City are convinced the Reds will accept £45 million in cash – plus an extra £5 million depending on Sterling’s success at the Etihad.

The deal would smash City’s transfer record and make Sterling the most expensive Englishman in history.

Sterling returned to pre-season training with Brendan Rodgers’ men yesterday, but has made it clear he wants to leave Anfield after rejecting a new deal worth £100,000-a-week.

New signing James Milner also reported for duty with Liverpool on the day the Reds confirmed Sean O’Driscoll as the club’s new assistant manager.

And Rodgers has handed the former City midfielder the daunting task of filling the boots of Steven Gerrard and the shirt of Luis Suarez.

Speaking for the first time since completing his free transfer to Anfield, Milner revealed he has been asked to help develop the Kop youngsters.

He said: “I’ve been lucky enough to be playing for maybe 13 years now, hopefully I can bring that experience to the squad and help those younger guys along.”

Milner insisted he is not daunted by the task of donning the No.7 jersey once worn in the past by legends Kevin Keegan, Kenny Dalglish and Suarez.

Milner added: “I was seven at Man City, but at a club like Liverpool you can wear any number on the squad and it’ll have been filled with amazing players who have worn it before.

“I know seven is a special number for this football club and hopefully I can be a special player for this club.”

Meanwhile, Liverpool have been told to put up or shut up in their bid to land Aston Villa star Christian Benteke.

The striker has a £32,5 million escape clause in his contract, a deal which still has two years to run, and Villa won’t accept a penny less.

They don’t want to sell the Belgium international and are determined to play hard-ball over the fee, even though his value could be halved 12 months down the line.

Kop boss Brendan Rodgers wants to make Benteke his seventh signing of the summer after landing England right-back Nathaniel Clyne from Southampton for £12.5m.

Liverpool head a list of clubs interested in the 24-year-old but are reluctant to go as high as the escape clause. — The Daily Star.

 

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