Manchester City are emerging as outright favourites for wantaway Liverpool midfielder Raheem Sterling. The Daily Mail says though Brendan Rodgers insisted on Friday that he still expects Sterling to honour the two years he has left on his contract, City are in pole position - ahead of Chelsea and Arsenal - to sign him as they reshape their squad.

City have moved into a position where they will look to strike for the £45million-rated England international and Manuel Pellegrini did not try to play down the prospect of Sterling arriving at the Etihad this summer, where he could expect to be paid £120,000 per week.

Arsenal and Chelsea are also interested, but are unlikely to be willing to enter an auction with City for the 20 year-old.