Raheem Sterling Blags Off Training, Refuses to Join Pre-Season Tour

Want-away Liverpool winger Raheem Sterling is doing just about everything that he can to force a move away from the club. Despite returning to training on Monday and being expected to take part in their pre-season tour, the 20-year old has reportedly told the Reds hierarchy that he was blagging off the whole shebang before phoning in sick for training earlier today.

This, of course, isn’t all that surprising. If you’re not aware of the ongoing wrangles between Liverpool and Sterling over his new contract, then it won’t take you long to get up to speed. With six new players coming in thus far this summer, the Anfield outfit look like they’re gearing up before finally letting him jump ship, but as they proved in the past with the very similar Luis Suarez situation, the player will be leaving on their terms and for the amount of money that they deem appropriate.

Manchester City, the most likely destination for the 20-year old, have already seen a pair of big money bids rejected by Liverpool as the hold out for something in the region of a cool £50mil. With their Financial Fair Play restrictions lifted by UEFA last week, the billionaire boys club certainly have that kind of money at their disposal, but just when they’re going to decide to splash that cash remains to be seen. Regardless, former Liverpool defender and current Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher believes that these type of antics will only further his increasingly terrible public image.

“He’s starting to get a reputation that could be hard to rid himself of in the future. Are Man City fans looking at the situation and thinking this could be us in a few years?” mused the former Liverpool defender. “I think this situation will only make Liverpool more determined to get the fee they feel Raheem is worth, rather than caving in to Raheem’s and Man City’s wishes.”

More on this when City stump up or Sterling gets on the plane…