MANCHESTER CITY have slapped a £67.5million price-tag on Raheem Sterling with Barcelona ready to pounce for the star, according to reports.
And the LaLiga giants could make their move for the England winger in the January transfer window, according to MARCA.
The Spanish newspaper’s report says Sterling’s deal at the Etihad, which runs until June 2023, puts him in the ‘red-zone to leave on a free transfer’.
But it adds he ‘hopes to depart before then’ and that City ‘are in no mood to offer any discounts on their players’.
MARCA says Sterling ‘is currently in a difficult situation’ at City having lost a regular starting place and there are ‘rumours of a rift’ between him and boss Pep Guardiola.
The report concludes City ‘are willing to sell Sterling if a good offer arrives’ as Pep has admitted ‘he only wants footballers at his club who are happy.’
One stumbling block for the move might be the precarious financial situation at Barca, who revealed in August they were £1.15billion in debt.
But despite a morale-boosting win over Valencia on Sunday and a hotly-anticipated debut for former City striker Sergio Aguero following an injury, Ronald Koeman’s side still need quality reinforcements in attack.
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Sterling, 26, has started just three Prem games this season and has been given stiff competition for his place by £100m summer recruit Jack Grealish.
And Sterling admitted last week he would be open to a move away from the Etihad for ‘more game time’.
Guardiola responded by saying no City player is guaranteed minutes on the pitch, and urged Sterling to prove he should be a starter when he gets the chance to play.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
