Newcastle United reportedly want Manchester City winger Raheem Sterling to be their statement signing under the new multi-billionaire ownership.
According to Fichajes, Raheem Sterling is one of the players on the new Newcastle United hierarchy’s shortlist, with the English winger likely to be the first face of their rebuilding project at the Tyneside.
Newcastle United have become the major players of all the transfer stories surrounding star players since the change in ownership was confirmed. The new Saudi-backed owners have serious ambition and intend to build a team that regularly competes for UEFA Champions League qualifying positions and, in the long run, vying for Europe’s prestigious titles.
The path taken is understood to be process-driven. They want a big marquee signing this January – a bit-like Robinho-esque after Manchester City’s takeover – which will put them on the map of world football and facilitate them to attract more superstars to the Northeast of England. And one of the names popping up on the list is that of Manchester City fringe star Raheem Sterling.
The 26-year-old has progressed leaps and bounds since arriving from Liverpool as a young talent back in2015. Sterling has amassed an impressive tally of 115 goals and 89 assists in 302 appearances for Citizens. He was once deemed indispensable from the starting XI under Pep Guardiola. However, the English international has been constantly in and out of the team of late and is not a regular starter by any means with Jack Grealish and Gabriel Jesus ahead of him in the pecking order.
Sterling has started only four of the ten appearances he has made so far this campaign, bagging just under 500 minutes of footballing action, producing a mere one goal and assisting one. Despite not being a first-choice at City, Sterling is still regarded as world-class forward with his impactful displays on the international stage coming to his rescue.
Sterling still has two years left to run on his Etihad deal. His situation has piqued interest from several suitors, with Barcelona the major ones, but with Blaugrana in financial chaos of their own, Newcastle becomes a likely destination for the 26-year-old considering the affordability of his massive wages at Man City.
Newcastle are well-stocked in the wide areas, with wingers having varied attributes and skillset. Allan Saint-Maximin is more of a flashy skilful dribbler, Miguel Almiron a natural speedster, while Ryan Fraser, Matt Ritchie and Jacob Murphy are more traditional wingers who feature more in the wing-back slot than an out-and-out wing play role.
None of them aren’t exactly goal-scoring wingers, and securing a wide-man of Sterling’s pedigree would be a coup for the Magpies. With him still in his peak years, there is plenty more to come from the former Liverpool man. However, whether he can be convinced to make the switch from the champions to a team currently dawdling at the bottom remains to be seen.
