Raheem Sterling to Manchester City: Club 'positive' they can get unhappy Liverpool forward for cheaper than £50million

Liverpool want £50million for the 20-year-old

(Getty Images)

Manchester City are coming closer to reaching a deal with unhappy Liverpool forward Raheem Sterling and are positive they can get him for cheaper than £50million, according to reports.

Liverpool previously declared that they felt the England star is worth £50million, but the Daily Mail report that City are unwilling to pay more than £40m, and are becoming increasingly more assured of getting Sterling.

Liverpool are thought to have hoped to begin a bidding war, but City's competition do not appear as interested: Arsenal and Chelsea are looking at Sterling, but are more interested in other players.

European clubs like Real Madrid and Bayern Munich look unlikely to offer more than the £30m bid City had rejected last week.

Sterling wants his move to be decided before the start of the season - he is not willing to move once the new Premier League campaign has begun.

The 20-year-old midfielder has been excellent for Liverpool shirt in the last couple of years and caught the attention of several big clubs. Sterling also appeared in last summer's World Cup for England.