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Liverpool are determined to stick to their guns and dismiss Manchester City's latest offer for Raheem Sterling.

Anfield owners John Henry, Tom Werner and Mike Gordon are currently meeting to draw up a response to the approach, and with the time difference between the UK and United States, their answer will come later this afternoon.

But sources within the Merseyside club suggest the offer – thought to be ultimately worth around £40m – will be rejected, with the club maintaining their firm stance the player is simply not for sale.

And already, the noises coming out of the States indicate that the American owners will not even entertain a sale until any offer gets beyond the £50m mark.

The logic at Anfield is simple. They were damaged by the sale of Luis Suarez to Barcelona, but at least got market price for the striker...and a figure that is way beyond anything the Uruguayan will be worth in the future.

(Image: The FA)

The £40m offer for Sterling is a handsome one, but reflects his status as a promising young star, and most certainly not as the finished article.

At Anfield, they believe the only reason to sell a player who still has 25 months left on his contract would be if they were offered the finished article price, which would take all the risk out of any deal.

The Reds insist that price would be much closer to the £59m Manchester United paid for Angel Di Maria, who plays in a similar role to Sterling.

City have indicated their offer is a final one, but given it has arrived in June – and their pressing need to sign English players – Liverpool are prepared to play hard ball and hold out until the bidding reaches a level that makes it sensible to sell, without any real risk of future embarrassment.