Raheem Sterling leaving Manchester City is an idea the media aren’t letting go and Mundo Deportivo say Barcelona are closing in on a deal for the out-of-form 26-year-old. The report claims Barca have the ‘ok’ to sign Sterling who wants a ‘loan with a mandatory purchase option’, but it remains to be seen if it’s true.
Sterling has made 10 appearances in all competitions this season, scoring one goal with one assist. The England international has amassed only 274 minutes of Premier League football from a possible 630, so he’s not commanding a regular starting place under Pep Guardiola. Mundo Deportivo believe Barca have €20m (£17m) to spend in January and have wanted Sterling since 2020.
The Catalan giants are in £1.2bn of debt and resorted to signing out-of-contract players and loanees over the summer as they couldn’t afford to pay transfer fees. Their spiralling finances saw them lose out of Lionel Messi while forcing first-teamers to take a paycut, so it’s unknown what they can offer Sterling.
It’s also unlikely that City would let the 26-year-old leave mid-season, even if he’s not a regular right now. Sterling has played in every league game, albeit from the bench at times, so he does have a role under the manager. It seems highly unlikely that Barca would be successful in January.
In other news, why Barcelona ‘trying to sign’ Man City player ‘fell through’ this summer