Raheem Sterling calls in sick for Liverpool training as Manchester City transfer saga takes new twist

England international has told club he wants to leave Anfield

Raheem Sterling in training on Monday (GETTY IMAGES)

Raheem Sterling did not report for Liverpool pre-season training at Melwood this morning.

The winger phoned in sick, having told Brendan Rodgers that he did not wish to be considered for Liverpool's tour of South East Asia and Australia in the last 48 hours.

It is club procedure to send a doctor to check on any player in this circumstance.

Liverpool fly to Bangkok on Sunday and will play a Thai All-Star XI on Tuesday.

If Sterling does not travel with the 30-man squad, it will make it logistically easier to finalise a transfer to Manchester City, who are expected to lodge another bid for the 20-year-old in the next few days.

Sterling has held two meetings with Rodgers since returning to Melwood for training on Monday morning. It is understood that in the second, he informed the Liverpool manager of his intentions, although the winger has not yet lodged an official transfer request.

Manchester City have not made contact with Liverpool since their second offer two weeks ago but are aware of the development and preparing to make a third bid for Sterling in the coming days.

City are unwilling to meet Sterling’s £50m price tag, but will go close to matching Liverpool’s demands in an effort to force a compromise.