Barcelona ‘attentive’ to Man City forward’s situation; Chelsea, Real Madrid also interested

Despite the club being in a tight financial situation, Barcelona continue to show a lot of ambition heading into the summer transfer window. President Joan Laporta is confident that the club can go strong in the window as long as the economic levers are activated.

And, with that in mind, the Catalan giants are continuing to plan out their strategies and identify targets for the summer. Robert Lewandowski remains the top priority for the Blaugrana who are also keen on signing Raphinha from Leeds United.

However, Barcelona are ‘attentive’ to any and all opportunities that are arising in the market, with one such situation being that of Manchester City forward Raheem Sterling.

According to The Telegraph (h/t SPORT), the 27-year-old attacker could be on the move this summer as his place in the starting XI is becoming less and less guaranteed in light of the expensive acquisitions made by Man City.

The England international, who joined the Premier League champions in 2015 from Liverpool for a fee of £49 million, is keen on testing himself in another league. And with his contract expiring in 2023, the time seems right for the two parties to part ways this summer.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola is more than happy to sanction an exit for Sterling, which essentially means that the winger is back on the transfer market this summer and Barcelona are very attentive to his situation.

The Catalans are on the lookout for reinforcements in the frontline as indicated by their pursuit of Raphinha and Lewandowski. And a player like Sterling could also prove to be an excellent acquisition given his age, proven pedigree and ability to play anywhere across the frontline.

However, Barça are not alone in the race for Sterling as Chelsea and Arsenal are also keen on acquiring his services this summer.

But the report adds that the Englishman has been advised against a move to Chelsea by his representatives. And Arsenal’s lack of Champions League football might count against them. Furthermore, the winger himself remains intent on testing himself in Spain or Italy.

Apart from Chelsea and Arsenal, Barcelona would likely have to face competition from arch-rivals Real Madrid as well, who are in the market for a player of Sterling’s profile. There is also interest from PSG and Juventus, which would complicate matters further.

This is not the first time that Barcelona have been linked with Sterling. And a player of his calibre has the quality to make a big difference for Xavi’s side. But given the financial situation and the competition for his services, a move does seem unlikely.