Sterling will be with Liverpool FC for club's pre-season tour
http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/fo ... on-9609422Liverpool expect Raheem Sterling to be part of their squad for the pre-season tour of the Far East and Australia as the club’s pursuit of Christian Benteke rumbles on.
The Reds have been prepared for a third bid from Manchester City for Sterling since they rejected an improved offer of £35million rising to £40million last month.
However, three weeks on, there has been no further talks between the clubs with City reluctant to meet Liverpool’s £50million valuation.
Unless City make a decisive move in the coming days then Sterling, who reported back to Melwood for the start of pre-season on Monday, will fly with Brendan Rodgers’ men to Thailand on Sunday. Their first tour game is in Bangkok next Tuesday.
Despite the England international making it clear that he wants to move to the Etihad, the 20-year-old has been told that in the absence of an acceptable offer then he will be held to the final two years of his existing £35,000 per week contract.
Liverpool found themselves in a similar situation on tour two years ago when Luis Suarez was trying to engineer a move to Arsenal. The Reds refused to bow to his demands and the Uruguayan striker was later banished to train on his own before accepting he was going nowhere and knuckling down.
Reds respectful of Villa position
City, who are expected to spend big this summer after UEFA eased their Financial Fair Play restrictions, fly to Australia on Thursday for an 11-day training camp on Queensland’s Gold Coast.
While Sterling’s immediate future remains unclear, there is also no resolution in sight to Liverpool’s interest in Benteke.
The big Belgian frontman is due to report back for pre-season with Aston Villa on Wednesday ahead of their trip to Portugal the following day.
Benteke is expected to inform boss Tim Sherwood of his desire to leave the Midlands outfit. However, he will be told that Villa will only sell if a club meets the £32.5million release clause in his contract.
Liverpool aren’t willing to go that high as they value him around £20million to £25million but they retain hope that a compromise can still be reached. It remains to be seen whether the player’s determination to move on does eventually lead to Villa lowering their demands,
Anfield officials are respectful of Villa’s position on the basis that Liverpool have adopted a similarly hardline stance with Sterling – placing a price on a player they don’t want to lose which they insist is non-negotiable.
Like Sterling, Benteke also has two years remaining on his current contract and has made it clear he won’t pen an extension,