Raheem Sterling to Arsenal: Gunners to test Liverpool resolve with cheeky offer with winger set to reject £180,000-a-week contract - reports

Various reports indicate Sterling's time at Anfield could be coming to an end

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Raheem Sterling's contract stand-off with Liverpool has hit a new low - and Arsenal could be poised to take advantage if reports are to be believed.

The England winger has been locked in negotiations for the past couple of months with Reds boss Brendan Rodgers previously telling reporters that Sterling had been handed an "incredible" offer.

Rodgers admitted a couple of weeks ago that the situation was unlikely to be resolved between now and the end of the season but, according to the Daily Mail, negotiations have now taken a turn for the worse.

Liverpool have already made an offer of £90,000-a-week but the paper reports that even if Liverpool were to offer Sterling £180,000-a-week - one of the biggest deals in club history - the 20-year-old would turn it down.

Sterling, who has two years left to run on his current £35,000-a-week deal, is believed to be increasingly concerned by Rodgers' decision to play him at wing-back in recent weeks.

Arsene Wenger could now be ready to pounce on the breakdown and make a move for the youngster in the summer.

According to the Daily Mirror, Arsenal have made 'discreet enquiries' about Sterling, who is also wanted by Manchester City, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich.

City are likely to make a bid in the summer, but Arsenal believe they have a trump card with Liverpool interested in Theo Walcott, who is also locked in negotiations over a new deal, and the fact they are a London club, where Sterling grew up after moving from Jamaica as a five-year-old.

Arsenal and Liverpool's relationship is at a low, however, over the Luis Suarez bid in the summer of 2013 - the Gunners made a £40,000,001 bid that prompted Liverpool owner John W. Henry to send out an infamous message on social media.

"What do you think they're smoking over there at Emirates," he wrote.

Sterling will not play in the England friendly against Italy, having returned to Liverpool after scoring in the 4-0 win over Lithuania. He will be available for Liverpool's match at the Emirates on Saturday.