Gossip: Berahino sacks Sterling agent

Saido Berahino: Disillusioned with Raheem Sterling's agent

Saido Berahino has sacked the agent trying to force Raheem Sterling's Liverpool exit, while Roberto Soldado is seeking a way out of Tottenham.

BERAHINO SACKS STERLING AGENT

West Brom striker Saido Berahino has parted company with Aidy Ward, the agent attempting to get Raheem Sterling a move away from Liverpool.

The two players signed up with Ward when he set up on his own after leaving Impact Sports Management last season, but the Daily Mail reports Berahino has become disillusioned with Ward following Sterling's attempts to leave Anfield.

Ward said: "I'm no longer working with Saido. You'll have to ask him for the reasons. With Raheem, there has been a breakdown in trust between him and Brendan Rodgers.

Sterling, meanwhile, did not train with his Liverpool team-mates on Wednesday, citing illness, but The Sun claims the England forward has been warned he must go on the club's pre-season tour despite asking to be omitted from the travelling party.

Manchester City sources claim they have 'no immediate plans' to meet Liverpool's £50million asking price for Sterling, according to the tabloid.

SOLDADO SEEKING SPURS EXIT

Roberto Soldado has told the Tottenham hierarchy he is keen to leave the club this summer to play more regular football elsewhere, The Guardian reports.

Soldado has scored only three goals from open play in the Premier League since joining Spurs from Valencia in a £26million transfer two summers ago, and the 30-year-old has seen his chances at White Hart Lane restricted by the emergence of Harry Kane.

There has been interest in him from Spain, but Spurs will hold out for a decent fee, the newspaper adds, confident they can arrange a transfer.

They are said to be less hopeful, however, of offloading Emmanuel Adebayor, who has a year remaining on his £100,000-per-week contract and is not apparently not willing to move on unless it's for a similar deal and/or to an elite club. Interest from clubs in Turkey has so far not persuaded the 31-year-old to leave north London.

Spurs will need to sign at least one new striker this summer but have made no contact with Aston Villa over Christian Benteke, according to The Guardian.

SOUTHAMPTON TURN TO VLAAR

Having missed out on the permanent signing of Toby Alderweireld to Tottenham, Southampton boss Ronald Koeman is ready to revive his interest in Ron Vlaar, claims the Daily Mirror.

Vlaar, without a club after his Aston Villa contract expired, was a target for Koeman last summer before he moved for Alderweireld instead, and the 30-year-old could now finally make the move to St Mary's.

AND THE REST

- Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal will confirm the arrival of Italian defender Matteo Darmian from Torino in a £12m deal on Thursday. His arrival is set to coincide with Robin van Persie's departure to Fenerbahce (Daily Star)

- Southampton expect midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin, 25, to leave but will make Manchester United pay £27m for the France international (The Independent)

- Chelsea will lend Brazilian recruits Kenedy and Nathan straight out on loan in a bid to fast-track their work permits (The Sun)

- Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel is ready to end his nine-year love affair with the club by joining Fenerbahce (Daily Star)

- Aston Villa expect Liverpool target Christian Benteke to report on Thursday for their pre-season training camp in Portugal (Daily Mirror)

- Premier League newcomers Bournemouth are closing in on the £6m signing of St-Etienne's 27-year-old former Leeds and Leicester winger Max Gradel (Daily Mirror)

- Middlesbrough are chasing Espanyol striker Christian Stuani; the 28-year-old scored 15 goals last season and is valued at around £4m (Daily Mail)

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Danny Ings hopes to learn from Daniel Sturridge at Liverpool

Danny Ings: Relishing Daniel Sturridge strike partnership

New Liverpool striker Danny Ings is looking forward to playing alongside Daniel Sturridge this season.

Ings, 22, is eager to make his mark at Anfield after completing his move from Burnley last month and is keen to learn from England international Sturridge.

Sturridge had an injury-hit campaign last term and scored just four goals, but was much more impressive the previous year as he netted 21 goals in a lethal partnership with Luis Suarez.

"He's an unbelievable striker," Ings said of Sturridge.

"He is one of those players who has come through the ranks, he has not had it easy. Now he's here and he's established; he's a fantastic, talented football player I can learn from."

England U21 international Ings, whose fee is set to be decided by tribunal, was attracting interest from across Europe ahead of the expiration of his contract with Burnley at the end of last season, but he insists Liverpool was the only place he wanted to be.

"As soon as I knew that Liverpool were interested, it was a no-brainer," he told LFCTV.

"It was the only club on my mind, to be fair. And now that it has happened, it's fantastic for me and my family.

"It's a special club, everybody knows it. With all the history that's here...it's definitely a massive step in my career and I'm over the moon."

Ings decided to turn down the chance to wear an iconic squad number and opted instead for No 28.

"I had a chat with my agent and a few friends and we thought that moving to such a big club like this, you need to take all the pressure off yourself," he said.

"Taking one of the low numbers does make a difference, because some of the players that have worn those shirts have been superstars and world-class players.

"So it was important to start with a high number and my reason is to work my way down. When I achieve success here, that's when I'll take a shirt like that; until then, I'll keep number 28, keep my head down and work hard."

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Danny Ings hopes to learn from Daniel Sturridge at Liverpool

Danny Ings relishing Daniel Sturridge strike partnership

New Liverpool striker Danny Ings is looking forward to playing alongside Daniel Sturridge this season.

Ings, 22, is eager to make his mark at Anfield after completing his move from Burnley last month and is keen to learn from England international Sturridge.

Sturridge had an injury-hit campaign last term and scored just four goals, but was much more impressive the previous year as he netted 21 goals in a lethal partnership with Luis Suarez.

"He's an unbelievable striker," Ings said of Sturridge.

"He is one of those players who has come through the ranks, he has not had it easy. Now he's here and he's established; he's a fantastic, talented football player I can learn from."

England U21 international Ings, whose fee is set to be decided by tribunal, was attracting interest from across Europe ahead of the expiration of his contract with Burnley at the end of last season, but he insists Liverpool was the only place he wanted to be.

"As soon as I knew that Liverpool were interested, it was a no-brainer," he told LFCTV.

"It was the only club on my mind, to be fair. And now that it has happened, it's fantastic for me and my family.

"It's a special club, everybody knows it. With all the history that's here...it's definitely a massive step in my career and I'm over the moon."

Ings decided to turn down the chance to wear an iconic squad number and opted instead for No 28.

"I had a chat with my agent and a few friends and we thought that moving to such a big club like this, you need to take all the pressure off yourself," he said.

"Taking one of the low numbers does make a difference, because some of the players that have worn those shirts have been superstars and world-class players.

"So it was important to start with a high number and my reason is to work my way down. When I achieve success here, that's when I'll take a shirt like that; until then, I'll keep number 28, keep my head down and work hard."

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Rodgers the reason for Sterling exit desire

Raheem Sterling: Met with Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers on Wednesday

Raheem Sterling did not train with Liverpool on Wednesday amid reports he wants to leave because he does not want to play for Brendan Rodgers.

It was reported on Wednesday morning that Sterling had asked to be omitted from Liverpool's squad for their pre-season tour of the Far East and Australia, and the saga took a further twist later in the day when it was revealed the England forward did not train with his team-mates, citing illness.

He did, however, attend a 25-minute meeting with Brendan Rodgers at Melwood, in which, according to Sky Sports, he told the Reds boss the reason he wanted to leave this summer was not because of money or because of the club itself but because he does not wish to play for the Northern Irishman.

Former Liverpool midfielder Dietmar Hamann believes the Merseysiders should now look to sell Sterling as quickly as possible.

"It is in both club's interest that a deal is done quickly," Hamann told talkSPORT.

"He wants to go to City, he has made that clear for weeks or months now and I don't think Liverpool want him on the tour anyway because you want to concentrate on the players you will work with over the next 12 months. It is 99 per cent certain that he won't be there.

"It is in Liverpool and Manchester City's interest that a deal will get sorted because City will go away and Manuel Pellegrini will want him on their pre-season tour. Hopefully, something will be agreed.

"It would be daft to take him on the tour [against his wishes] because there is little to zero chance he will stay at Liverpool and it has to be resolved by Sunday, when they go to Asia."

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Lallana heaps more praise on Clyne

Nathaniel Clyne: Welcomed to Liverpool by Adam Lallana

Adam Lallana has described Nathaniel Clyne as a player whose best attribute is his defending and who will get even better at Liverpool.

Lallana last week hailed Liverpool's summer transfers so far as "tremendous" and has now heaped further praise on their latest acquisition, Clyne, who he played alongside at Southampton.

"For me, playing against him in training, I'd never want to be playing against him," Lallana told the Liverpool Echo.

"He's very aggressive and he's even added goals to his game; he obviously scored here at Anfield the first game of last year. I'm sure the fans have had brief moments where they've watched him play, especially for England; he came on the scene last season and has done very well and is a regular member of the squad now.

"He's a very good defender. He's a right-back so his main attribute should be defending and there's not many players I see get by him, take him down the outside.

"I saw Clyney in America for a few days and we were chatting there about the possibility of him signing. I think he's a great signing for the club.

"I played with him for two or three years at Southampton and he's a solid right-back - you know what you're going to get from him every game. He's only going to get better playing here with better players around him and I'm sure the manager will have his ideas and want to improve him even more."

Liverpool face a testing start to the new Premier League season, with several difficult away games in store, but Lallana is confident the Reds can hit the ground running with their new signings on board.

"I feel really confident, really optimistic," he said. "I feel that the group of players that we've brought in and added to is only going to make everyone up their game. There's going to be good competition for places, which I think is healthy in a good team. I'm just looking forward to getting going now."

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Liverpool flop Manquillo returns to Atletico

Javier Manquillo: Returns to Atletico

Javier Manquillo has returned to Atletico Madrid after his two-year loan at Liverpool was terminated early.

The Spanish club have confirmed that the 21-year-old has been recalled and the deal cancelled by mutual consent because he did not get sufficient game time during his first season at Anfield.

Playing at right-back, Manquillo initially made a positive impression at the Reds but then fell out of favour and did not play again in the Premier League after December.

His only appearances in 2015 came in FA Cup ties against AFC Wimbledon and Bolton and the Europa League defeat at Besiktas.

His opportunities were further likely to be restricted next season following Liverpool's #12.5million signing of Nathaniel Clyne from Southampton.

A statement from Atletico Madrid read: "Javier Manquillo will not fulfil his second season on loan with Liverpool.

"The player and Atletico Madrid decided that the winger from Madrid would go to Anfield's club for two seasons to enjoy the necessary minutes to continue growing football-wise.

"However, in this first season with the 'Reds', the defender has not had all the minutes he and our club consider necessary for that purpose of accumulating experiences in his sports growth, so by mutual consent, it has been decided that he will not follow under the discipline of the English team."

Atletico will now look to loan Manquillo out elsewhere.

Liverpool meanwhile have not commented on reports that unsettled winger Raheem Sterling has asked not to be considered for the club's pre-season tour of the Far East and Australia.

The 20-year-old, who has rejected a new contract offer from Liverpool believed to be worth around #100,000 per week, has been the subject of two failed bids from Manchester City this summer.

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Sterling asks to be left out of Liverpool tour

Raheem Sterling: Liverpool winger wants to join Manchester City

Raheem Sterling has asked to be left out of Liverpool's squad for their pre-season tour as he seeks to force a move to Manchester City.

Liverpool have already rejected two offers from City for Sterling, but Manuel Pellegrini's side are shortly expected to return with a third bid which will be close to the Reds' £50million valuation of the England forward.

According to widespread newspaper reports, Sterling has held talks with Brendan Rodgers since returning to training on Monday to reiterate his desire to leave Anfield this summer and also ask to be left out of the squad that departs for Bangkok on Sunday for a tour of the Far East and Australia.

However, Sterling is under contract at Liverpool for another two years and, although he has rejected the offer of a new deal, the Merseyside club are refusing to pander to the 20-year-old. Rodgers expects Sterling to travel and play in the team's first friendly against Thailand All-Stars on Tuesday unless City make an acceptable offer before then.

Despite their tough stance, Liverpool are considering possible alternatives to Sterling, with Barcelona's Pedro and Real Madrid's Denis Cheryshev, who spent last season on loan at Villarreal, among the players said to be targets.

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