Raheem Sterling transfer news: Manchester City 'ready' to make Liverpool a big money offer on first day of the transfer window

Sterling's future at Liverpool has come under question given a month of dominating the headlines for the wrong reasons

Raheem Sterling of Liverpool (Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

Manchester City are ready to launch a big money bid for Liverpool's Raheem Sterling as soon as the summer transfer window opens in July following an unsettled season for the England midfielder.

Sterling has found himself in the headlines for all the wrong reasons of late, with his unsanctioned interview with the BBC regarding his ongoing contract negotiations causing a stir at Anfield among the Reds’ hierarchy. The revelation of pictures showing Sterling inhaling nitrous oxide – or ‘hippie crack’ – as well as smoking a shisha pipe on two occasions has added to the controversy, with Sterling’s future at the club now in serious doubt.

While the club will not take action against the 20-year-old, he is unlikely to agree a new contract which runs until the summer of 2017, and he has been linked with a move to the likes of City, Chelsea and Arsenal as well as Bayern Munich and Real Madrid.

According to the Daily Mail, City are ready to make the first move in that race and launch a bid for Sterling on the first day of the new transfer window, although a deal can be discussed before that date.

Liverpool were hoping that a £50m price tag would fend off any clubs interested in Sterling, but City can more than afford the fee and hope to land the talented midfielder to try and revive their team that has collapsed so dramatically this season.

Sterling has been caught up in controversy this month (Getty Images)

One potential problem in the threat of Uefa’s Financial Fair Play regulations that could see any deal waved off if it means City would suffer a second penalty at the hands of the governing body for overspending in the transfer market. It’s also likely that the two clubs will not enter any talks until the season is over, given that Liverpool believe they can still catch City given their run of poor results and steal the final Champions League qualification spot, with just four points separating the two sides in the league table.