Real Madrid offer Gareth Bale plus cash for Raheem Sterling
Reports in the UK suggest that the Spanish giants have an offer to make to Manchester City for one of their prized assets this January.
Real Madrid are reportedly lining up an offer to tempt Manchester City to part company with their flying winger Raheem Sterling. The value being suggested by Sky Sports is around 80 million euros plus a rather high-profile player thrown in, Gareth Bale.
Sterling-Bale switch offer
Raheem Sterling has been growing in stature since his rise in the Liverpool side that went close to winning the Premier League in 2014, and then under Pep Guardiola has progressed to the very elite of world football. He is a prized asset for the English champions and prying him away will not be easy, if possible at all.
Big money was spent by the 13-time European champions on Eden Hazard in the summer - along with some other notable investments - but, so far, Zinedine Zidane has failed to get the team to a level of performance that the president and the fans expect. With seven goals in ten appearances, and a hugely influential role in his side's attack every time he plays, Sterling would almost certainly add an extra dimension to Los Blancos.
One thing in Madrid's favour is that the 24-year old has made comments in the past about his desire to play in LaLiga before his career is over, and getting a chance to join the most successful club in Europe at his peak must be an attractive proposition. With all signs pointing to the departure of the Welshman, this deal may be something that could work for a number of parties involved, although Sky also report that Guardiola is not particularly keen on adding Bale to his squad.
Florentino Pérez may indeed strive to make the offer if these reports are to be believed, but it would surely require a strong request from Sterling himself if the Bernabéu crowd are to cheer on the Englishman any time soon.