Real Madrid are ready to splash the cash on Manchester City star Raheem Sterling with a sensational £180 million summer bid.
According to The Sun, Real Madrid have set their sights on Raheem Sterling as they attempt to take full advantage of Manchester City’s recent ban in the UEFA Champions League. The Premier League champions won’t be able to compete in the coveted competition for two years after breaching the FFP rules.
As a result, Real Madrid are preparing a sensational £180 million bid in order to lure Sterling into jumping ship. They are well aware of the fact that a player of his calibre would demand regular Champions League football every season. But, with Man City ruled out of the competition for two years, Santiago Bernabeu seems like an appealing destination for the English international.
It is further sweetened by the fact that last summer’s marquee signing Eden Hazard has struggled to make an immediate impact. The Belgian, who was the designated replacement for Cristiano Ronaldo, has suffered from an injury that has kept him out for the majority of the season.
Hence, Hazard has only featured in just over 600 minutes of league football, during which he has scored just the one goal.
Sterling, in contrast, has been one of the most consistent performers in the Premier League for the past couple of years. The ex-Liverpool star has already netted 89 goals while mustering 71 assists in 249 competitive appearances for Man City.
This season, in particular, he has been in fine form, scoring 26 goals in 35 matches in all competitions despite Man City struggling to impose their dominance in English football. Therefore, Sterling could potentially fill the hole that was left by Cristiano Ronaldo, as far as the productivity is concerned.
At the same time, however, Real Madrid should also look at the fact that they lack the services of a reliable centre-forward aside from Karim Benzema. Luka Jovic has struggled to make an impact in his debut season in Spain and has been linked with a loan move away from the Bernabeu.
With Benzema nearing the final phase of his career, it would be imperative for Los Blancos to secure the services of a proper long-term replacement. Sterling, in that regard, may not be a smart investment even though he has been quite impressive in front of goal.
Someone like Timo Werner, for example, could be an ideal target for the Spanish giants, while Everton’s Moise Kean has also been linked. And with youngsters like Rodrygo and Vinicius Junior exploding at Real Madrid, shifting their attention towards a number nine should indeed be the top priority for Zinedine Zidane’s men this summer.
