Man City bump up their offer for Sterling

MANCHESTER – Manchester City have made a fresh and much improved offer of £40-million (about R783-million) to Liverpool for England international Raheem Sterling, according to reports in the English press.

Liverpool are thought to value the livewire 20- year-old winger at £50million (about R978-million) and are likely to turn down the offer even though Sterling has told Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers he wants to leave Anfield.

City offered £25-million plus add-ons last week and this second approach for Sterling is unlikely to be their last.

Club chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak has promised “high-quality ” signings after Manuel Pellegrini ’ s charges failed to meet expectations during their failed defence of the Premier League title.

For their part, the once-mighty Merseyside outfit remain keen to convince Sterling to sign a new contract, although he rejected a deal that would have paid him around £100 000 a week.

Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United are also reported to be interested in Sterling. –