La Liga giants both keen on Anfield star.
Real Madrid and Barcelona scouts were present for Saturday’s Merseyside derby clash between Liverpool and Everton with both La Liga sides keeping a close eye on England international Raheem Sterling.
Read more:
Victor Valdes Liverpool: Brendan Rodgers wants former Barcelona custodian
Mario Balotelli Car: Liverpool Striker Lets Young Fans Drive His Ferrari!
(Pictures) Amazing Ryder Cup WAGS In All Their Glory.
The 19 year old is fast becoming one of the hottest prospects in world football and Brendan Rodgers would be loathed to lose the teenager though interest from two of Europe’s ‘Elite’ may be tough for the youngster to ignore.
Sterling will be looking to Liverpool to build on last season’s runners-up finish as well as a decent run on their return to the Champions League set-up, failure to do so could perhaps offer both Barcelona and Real Madrid added hope in their pursuit of the Anfield starlet.
Real Madrid successfully lured Gareth Bale from the Premier League just over a year ago and of course Barcelona landed Liverpool striker Luis Suarez in July.
Liverpool brought in Sterling from QPR’s youth team set-up in February 2010 and is already into his fourth season in the club’s first team set-up and a regular at national team level and a player Rodgers would look to call upon for many years to come.
It would take a bid of epic proportions to persuade Liverpool to sell Sterling and it appears that Real Madrid president Florentino Perez is ready to make just such an offer with Barcelona’s interest likely to spark a bidding war.
Both clubs are looking to bring in more youthful additions with the acquisitions of Neymar and James Rodriguez over the past year evidence of that.
Sterling has netted 15 goals in 83 appearances for Liverpool and has nine national team caps to his name and both Real Madrid and Barcelona are willing to fork out in excess of £40m for his services, a fee that may still fall short of any potential valuation the Merseyside club have placed on the player.