Manchester United ready second bid for Liverpool midfielder Raheem Sterling

Manchester United are preparing a shock £25m offer for Liverpool midfielder Raheem Sterling, who is set to leave Anfield in the summer.

The Mirror reports that Louis van Gaal is confident that the Reds will not have an issue selling to their most bitter rivals with the player having rejected an extension on his current contract. United have already seen their bid being rebuffed once but are set to try again, having taken note of the situation and the player's demands.

Liverpool are unlikely to accept the bid but may entertain offers from the likes of Arsenal, Manchester City and Chelsea, who are all interested in the player. Bayern Munich and Real Madrid have also been linked with the midfielder, with Rafa Benitez admitting that he is keen to reunite with Sterling since his time at Anfield.

"We admire Raheem Sterling, that's no secret," said Benitez.

"I know Raheem as a player but he is not part of this team so I won't talk about him," he added.

However, the player is believed to be eyeing a move back to London, making Chelsea and Arsenal the hot favourites for his signature. The Gunners have been linked with a swap deal for the player, with contract rebel Theo Walcott taking the route across to Merseyside.

Arsene Wenger may have other plans, with the Frenchman confirming that he wants to keep Walcott at the Emirates after the 26-year-old scored four goals in his last two starts, including in the FA Cup final against Aston Villa.

City are willing to pay over the odds for his signature, given they are in dire need of home-grown players, having already breached the FA's guidelines last season.

Van Gaal has already completed the signing of Dutch winger Memphis Depay but is refusing to give up on his attempt to sign Sterling, who he believes will be an asset for the Red Devils for years to come.