Liverpool Transfer News: Final Raheem Sterling Bid Readied by Manchester City

Manchester City are readying a third and final bid for Liverpool's want-away forward Raheem Sterling, according to reports.

The Sky Blues have already had two bids for the England international rejected, the most recent of which was a basic £35.5 million offer with add-ons, per BBC Sport's Ben Smith.

City are set to come in with a final bid of £40 million, plus £5 million in add-ons, a fee they hope will finally see them seal the deal for the controversial 20-year-old, per David Anderson and John Cross in the Mirror.

Previously, it has been reported that Liverpool are adamant they would accept no less than £50 million for Sterling, who still has two years left on his current contract with the Anfield club, per Chris Bascombe in the Telegraph.

However, relations between Sterling and Liverpool have soured of late, with the former QPR youth player seemingly trying to force his way out of the club.

Most recently, he has failed to turn up for training two days in a row—calling in sick—and informed Liverpool he does not want to travel on their pre-season tour, via Sport Witness:

The writing is seemingly on the wall for Sterling's Liverpool future, and City are clearly looking to take advantage of the situation at Liverpool.

Surely the Reds will wish to see the back of Sterling given the acrimony he has engendered at the club, and they would do well to accept City's latest reported offer, despite it being below their asking price.

Sterling is a terrific attacking talent, and very versatile, but he has not proven himself to be a £50 million player. If City are prepared to pay £40 million plus add-ons, Liverpool should accept.

Manager Brendan Rodgers could then use the money to bring in a top-quality striker, the kind of player the Reds have been sorely lacking since the departure of Luis Suarez.

It would also bring to an end the ongoing controversies surrounding Sterling, which cannot have been good for the club.

Such a deal could also end up being beneficial for all parties. Liverpool will have been well compensated, Sterling will have a fresh start and City could have picked up a long-term attacking asset, per Bleacher Report's Andy Brassell:

At the beginning of last season, Sterling looked for all the world as though he may be a Liverpool player for years to come.

However, that is no longer a realistic scenario and Liverpool should get rid of him sooner rather than later. If the reported figures of City's final bid are correct, the Reds will have pulled off an excellent piece of business, and they can move forward with their plans to return to the top of English football in the coming term.