Manchester City are reportedly determined to keep hold of Raheem Sterling and will knock back any and every offer from Barcelona.
According to an exclusive report by The Sun, Barcelona appear set to face disappointment in their pursuit of Raheem Sterling heading into the January transfer window. Manchester City have no intention of parting ways with the 26-year-old attacker and are even planning on offering him a new contract.
Raheem Sterling has come leaps and bounds since joining Manchester City from Liverpool in the summer of 2015. And while he might not start game in game out at the Etihad anymore, the English international is still widely regarded as one of the best forwards on show in the Premier League while also being a pivotal figure for the Three Lions.
To date, Sterling has managed a tally of 115 goals and 88 assists in 302 appearances for Manchester City. However, the reduction in his role has reportedly prompted the 26-year-old to consider his future at the Etihad, even as the Premier League champions prepare to offer him a new contract. At the same time, he is also attracting interest from Barcelona.
Barcelona had been hot on the trails of Sterling in the summer transfer window as well before a move failed to materialise. The interest in the English attacker has not waned since, with reports suggesting that they are preparing to make a loan offer for him heading into the January transfer window.
The interest in Sterling makes a lot of sense as well, considering Barcelona have been woefully short of goals so far this season. Indeed, the departures of Lionel Messi and Antoine Griezmann has hit the Blaugrana hard, with Memphis Depay the only consistent goalscorer in Ronald Koeman’s side at the moment, considering Ansu Fati is only just making his way back from a long-term injury.
With Luuk de Jong failing to make an impression and Sergio Aguero still on the sidelines, it goes without saying that Sterling would be a fine addition to the first-team setup at Camp Nou. And the 26-year-old is reportedly open to the prospect of joining Barcelona as well, which does give the Catalan giants some advantage in his pursuit.
However, as per The Sun, Manchester City do not intend to offload the English attacker anytime soon. In fact, as iterated earlier, the Premier League champions are also planning to table a new contract offer for Sterling, who wants to wait and see how much game-time he receives before making any commitments, which ought to keep Barcelona interested.
