Raheem Sterling having medical at Manchester City

Liverpool finally accepted an offer for the player over the weekend after a protracted saga, with Sterling making no secret of his desire to leave.

The 20-year-old was not included in Brendan Rodgers' squad for the pre-season tour to Thailand, but the Reds boss insisted there were no hard feelings between himself and the player.

Speaking at a press conference in Bangkok, the Northern Irishman said: "I spoke to Raheem at length again before I left (on Sunday), so there is no issue and no problem.

"Two clubs have agreed a deal and subject to a medical he will move on. But at this moment in time the interest is with the players that are here."

Sterling had reportedly asked Rodgers not to include him in the tour party and, when City tabled their improved bid on Sunday, Liverpool accepted the deal was done.

It will bring to an end an acrimonious six-month saga which began when Sterling rejected what Rodgers described as an "incredible" new contract offer in February.

Sterling went on to explain in an unsanctioned BBC interview why he had rejected the deal, before his agent Aidy Ward claimed the player would not sign a new deal, even for "£900,000 a week".

Merseyside Police confirmed on Monday evening that they were investigating Twitter threats made towards Sterling and his three-year-old daughter after news of his imminent switch was announced.

"The language used in these tweets is abhorrent," a Merseyside Police spokesman said in the Liverpool Echo.

"We are taking the incident extremely seriously and an investigation by detectives in Liverpool CID is ongoing.

"People who use the internet to target others and who commit criminal offences such as harassment or hate crime in doing so are not beyond the law and can expect to be brought to justice."

It will be a relief for all parties when this transfer is finally done. People will question the behaviour of certain individuals over the last few months but ultimately it is only football and the level of abuse aimed towards Sterling is very disturbing.

People will also debate who has got the best deal between Manchester City and Liverpool but the truth is, at this stage, everyone involved will be better off with the move going ahead. Liverpool can reinvest the money in a striker who will be committed to the club and Manchester City will have one of the best young players in Europe at their disposal.