Raheem Sterling. The message is clear; it’s time to go.

The Liverpool winger failed to report for training on Wednesday after he phoned in claiming he was sick.

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In any normal circumstance that might be acceptable. But just 24 hours earlier Sterling had informed his manager Brendan Rodgers he did not want to join the travelling party departing for the Far East and Australia for pre-season preparations.

Such is his determination to force through a move to Manchester City, the England international and his agent Aidy Ward have tried every PR trick in the book. From unsanctioned and ill-advised interviews, to public criticism of the manager.

That alone is enough to make any football supporter sick, never mind the player himself.

All this, is simply delaying his inevitable move to City, but the course of action the player and his advisors have chosen is, at the very least, questionable.

Rightly so, Liverpool’s original thought process was to dig their heels in and refuse to budge until an astronomical offer – somewhere in the region of £50 million (Dh281.6m) – was brought to the table, a la Luis Suarez.

But there’s a key difference between these two soap operas.

There is a minefield of opinions out there on Suarez, but what can never be called into question is his hunger to win. That desire to succeed was insatiable, whatever the circumstance, whomever he played for. It was in his DNA, just going through the motions was alien to a player like him.

And after Arsenal turned his head and Liverpool stood firm, the Uruguayan proved just that as he propelled the Reds to within a whisker of ending their long title drought in 2013/14.

Can the same be said about Sterling, though? There are certainly doubts now. The argument always was, keep him against his will, he’s hardly going to down tools and sulk. But is he? His performances last season after the stories first arose hardly inspire any confidence.

The damage to Sterling’s public image is quickly becoming irrevocable and these latest events will just speed up that process.

England fans booed him when they played a friendly against Ireland recently and if he was to stay at Liverpool, it won’t be a
one off. He can expect that type of poisonous reception at Anfield and arguably at other grounds too.

Now, he’s hit the Reds with a triple whammy – ringing in sick, making it clear he won’t join the squad for the pre-season tour and airing his negative opinions on the manager by leaking that his desire to leave is because he does not want to play for Rodgers.

In April, he said: “I don’t want to be perceived as a 20-year-old money-grabber but as the kid that loves to play football.”

But can he be viewed as anything else now?

Sterling is a distraction and it’s one that Rodgers, in what will be such a crucial campaign for both he and Liverpool, can ill afford. It’s time to get the best-possible fee for him and move on. Quickly.

What about City supporters, though. What will they make of this? Some may question what all the fuss is about, but it’s difficult to find footballers at his age with that talent holding an English passport – hence their persistent pursuit.

Any naysayers are just plain wrong; look at his performances towards the back end of that 2013/14 campaign for proof.

In the same way Liverpool took Sterling from Queens Park Rangers, now City will poach him from them. It is just a sign of where they are in the food chain, accept it and get shut.

Sterling had his head turned a long time ago and after these rash decisions, his position at Liverpool is untenable. These events are just the latest in a string of unnecessary mini-dramas because most know where he will end up.

The bid that will end this drama and seal Sterling’s move away from Anfield cannot come quick enough for Liverpool and their supporters.

But that won’t take away the bad taste all this has left in the mouth and for a young player who has grown into a star at Liverpool, that is both sad and totally unneccesary.