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Not content with an audacious bid to host the World Cup , non-league club Macclesfield Town have now launched their campaign to bolster their squad... by signing Liverpool's Raheem Sterling.

The Liverpool forward has taken the fancy of Manchester City, who we reported just yesterday were set to make a second bid of £40m to tempt him down the M62.

The Etihad club accepted they face a battle to land their transfer targets this summer, but competition from the Silkmen may be unexpected by pretty much everybody.

The club, who last season finished 15th in the conference, have tabled a target of £50m to make a bid for the England and Liverpool player.

They would be hoping the playmaker would slot in their current first XI, next to Waide Fairhurst and Chris Holroyd - assuming his training is up to scratch. Ultimately, they'd be hoping to move up the league - and into League two.

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Macclesfield shared on their Twitter feed a screenshot of a crowdfunder page £5 raised, and the caption "Nearly there! Just £49,999,995 to go! #raheemtomacc."

They followed up with "Blasted through the £100 barrier!" but shortly later seemed to realise that this may be an uphil struggle, tweeting: "Maybe we should have started our # RaheemToMacc campaign a few months ago? # SteadyProgress ".

However, they've got the support of their fans too.

Chadd Knupp writes: "You can do it lads ! Sterling to macc ! # raheemtomacc "

Dan Chapman said "My hometown club is making me proud!" and Paul Dickinson offered to help out the club's kitman, saying: "@ thesilkmen I can pledge a pound and an old pair of @ PUMA King for @ sterling31 to play in (provided he's a size 9)"

After their World Cup bid, which included promises like ‘free wifi at nearby Macclesfield library’, "a budget of £40 ‘set aside for gifts to the FIFA family’", and venues proposed including Weston Playing Fields (capacity: ‘124 spectators and eight dogs’) Macclesfield are sure to be hoping this campaign will be a success.

As we write this, the total currently stands at £135 . Just £49,999,865 to go then.