Raheem Sterling to Manchester City: Liverpool ready to axe midfielder from first-team and leave him in the reserves if £50m bid doesn't arrive

Liverpool will let Sterling rot in the reserves and look to sell him in January should a move to City fail to materialise

Sterling missed training on Wednesday and is not expected to attend Melwood on Thursday (Getty Images)

Raheem Sterling will be removed from the Liverpool first-team and forced to play for the reserves if Manchester City do not sign the midfielder as the club stand firm on their desire not to sell him.

The England international wants to leave Liverpool with City leading the race to land the 20-year-old, and they’re expected to launch a third bid of £40m plus £4m in add-ons this weekend, according to the Mirror.

But with Liverpool adamant that they will not sell Sterling for less than their £50m valuation, the club are considering banishing the wantaway youngster from Brendan Rodgers’ first team and leaving him in the reserve squad.

Sterling missed two days of pre-season training this week after returning from the players’ summer break, and he has informed the club that he does not want to be part of the squad that travels to Australia and the Far East on their pre-season tour.

Sterling was part of the club’s training plans yesterday at the player’s took part in two sessions before and after lunch, while they also enjoyed a group meal at a nearby hotel.

However, Sterling’s desire not to go on the pre-season tour could have serious ramifications as the club are considering their legal position. The Professional Footballers’ Association are ready to stand by as mediators, with the club uncertain over the level of punishment they can administer should Sterling fail to show up on Sunday when the squad will fly out to Australia.

Sterling will be banished from Rodgers' first-team squad (Getty Images)

With Liverpool owners John Henry, Mike Gordon and Tom Werner seriously unimpressed with the attitude of Sterling and his agent Aidy Ward, the club are willing to banish the midfielder from their first-team plans for the foreseeable future and reopen negotiations over his departure in January. With two years left to run on his contract, Liverpool are in no rush to sell him, and being dropped to the reserves would likely result in serious issues over his England career as manager Roy Hodgson would have to consider dropping him from the national team due to a lack of football.