The Daily Star report that Manchester City bosses are confident of finally securing the signing of Liverpool want-away youngster Raheem Sterling by the end of the week.





City have had a pair of bids rejected by the Reds, who are said to be holding out for £50m for the England international, with the Premier League runners up thus far refusing to bid anything over £40m for the 20-year-old.





Citizens chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak believes that agreeing a contract and personal terms with Sterling will be a formality and is allegedly prepared to meet Liverpool's asking price with an offer of £45m plus an extra £5m depending on Sterling's performances after signing.





Such an expensive deal would make the 20-year-old the most expensive English footballer in history, topping the £35m that the Reds paid for injury-prone striker Andy Carroll at the start of 2011.





Sterling will hope to be more of a success story than Carroll, who played just 44 league games in his 30 months contracted to the Reds, and scored only six goals before he was offloaded to West Ham.





The England international returned to Liverpool pre-season training on Monday, but has made it very clear over the course of the summer that he wants to leave Anfield, the sooner the better.









City have yet to make a start to their transfer business this summer, aiming high and chasing big-money moves for Sterling and Paul Pogba above all else.





Liverpool, on the other hand, have been very busy in the transfer market - already securing six signings, including James Milner, Nathaniel Clyne and Roberto Firmino.





Milner was revealed on Monday to be the recipient of the club's iconic number seven shirt number, saying: "I was seven at Man City, but at a club like Liverpool you can wear any number on the squad and it'll have been filled with amazing players who have worn it before.





"I know seven is a special number for this football club and hopefully I can be a special player for this club."





​​