Liverpool have put a £60million price on Raheem Sterling’s head after the England star insisted he wants to leave Anfield this summer. Sterl...
Liverpool have put a £60million price on Raheem Sterling’s head after the England star insisted he wants to leave Anfield this summer.
Sterling made the demand in a phone call to Liverpool chief executive Ian Ayre on Thursday after the club called off summit talks with the player and his agent over his future.
Ayre is understood to have told Sterling that he must see out the remaining two years of his £35,000-a-week contract on Merseyside, and Liverpool maintain publicly that the 20-year-old is not for sale at any price.
Privately, however, they are understood to be drawing up a contingency plan if it becomes clear that the player will have to go amid strong interest from Manchester City and the possibility of rival bids from Chelsea and Arsenal.
Liverpool are ready to put a premium price of £60m on Sterling — significantly more than the £45m previously mentioned — to test City’s resolve to sign the hottest young property in English football.
Falcao Old Trafford Nightmare Over
Manchester United have told striker Radamel Falcao that his time at Old Trafford is over.
Sportsmail can reveal that United manager Louis van Gaal informed Falcao of the club's decision at a meeting that took place in the last 48 hours.
Falcao has now instructed his representatives to look for other clubs in the Barclays Premier League and is understood to be willing to take a drop in wages to find another English club.
Otamendi Chase Continues
United have responded by stepping up their efforts in the summer transfer market, pursuing Nicolas Otamendi, the Valencia centre-half, for whom the Spanish club are asking £36million.
And though United are still committed to a move for their No 1 defensive target Mats Hummels, Borussia Dortmund are increasingly confident that their captain will stay, with sporting director Michael Zorc having said as much last week.
Drogba Draws The Curtain
Didier Drogba has announced that Sunday afternoon's home clash with Sunderland will be his last for the Barclays Premier League champions but he hopes to return to the club in some capacity in the future.
The 37-year-old Ivorian will sign off from his second stint at Stamford Bridge before the club lift the Premier League trophy in front of their home fans following the final match of the season.
