Manchester City has launched a £30million bid for Raheem Sterling.
City are understood to have made verbal offer to Liverpool yesterday – and have promised to follow that up with a formal offer for the England star.
They are set to offer £25m plus £5m in add-ons to begin the transfer scramble for the sought-after 20-year-old.
City are favourites to sign Sterling but could face competition from Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Real Madrid.
But Ethihad chiefs will be the first to table an official bid – and it will be a major test of Liverpool’s resolve as they battle to keep their prize asset.
Sterling has already made it clear he will not sign a new £90,000-a-week contract offer and that leaves Liverpool with a major dilemma.
They must decide whether to sell but City’s bid is now certain to increase the pressure at Anfield.
Liverpool are likely to ask for more than £30m but Sterling has made it clear he wants to leave Merseyside and that has cleared the path for City.