Manchester City superstar eyeing January exit amidst Barcelona interest

Manchester City's English midfielder Raheem Sterling (L), Manchester City's Brazilian striker Gabriel Jesus (C) and Manchester City's Algerian midfielder Riyad Mahrez (R) celebrate on the pitch after the English Premier League football match between Manchester City and Norwich City at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, north west England, on August 21, 2021. - Manchester City won the game 5-0. - RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by Adrian DENNIS / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images) /

According to a report from Spanish news outlet Mundo Deportivo (h/t the Manchester Evening News), Manchester City winger Raheem Sterling wants to leave Manchester City during the January transfer window due to lack of opportunities this season.

The England international, 26, lost his place in Pep Guardiola’s starting XI in the second half of last season. Even after helping England reach the Euro 2020 final, the Manchester City star has been limited to just three Premier League starts this season. Overall, the winger has scored two goals in 15 games in all competitions.

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The summer signing of Jack Grealish from Aston Villa has pushed Raheem Sterling further down the pecking order at Manchester City and the player is frustrated by the lack of game time he has been given this term, claims Mundo Deportivo. (h/t the Manchester Evening News)

Last month, Sterling admitted he would be open to leaving the Etihad Stadium if things didn’t change. The report (h/t the Manchester Evening News) adds Barcelona have been admirers of the English winger and would like to sign him on loan in January, only if their current financial situation allows them to thrash out a deal with Manchester City.

At the moment, Guardiola and his coaching staff prefer the likes of Phil Foden, Bernardo Silva, Jack Grealish, and Riyad Mahrez ahead of Sterling, whose contract at the club expires in 2023. This is perhaps down to the poor form the 26-year-old has shown since the last campaign, with the speedy winger no longer impacting games as he once was.

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As per recent reports from Spain, Man City have demanded Barcelona to include Frenkie de Jong in a part-exchange deal for Sterling. Fernandinho is in the twilight of his career and could leave the club at the end of the season when his contract expires. To that end, the Sky Blues’ interest in signing Frenkie de Jong makes sense.

However, it remains to be seen whether or not Barcelona would be willing to give up on one of Europe’s highly-rated midfield talents for Sterling.

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