Jurgen Klopp on Transfers: Liverpool Want Players 'Who Want to Fight' for Place
Feb 24, 2020
MADRID, SPAIN - FEBRUARY 18: coach Jurgen Klopp of Liverpool FC during the UEFA Champions League match between Atletico Madrid v Liverpool at the Estadio Wanda Metropolitano on February 18, 2020 in Madrid Spain (Photo by David S. Bustamante/Soccrates/Getty Images)
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has said the club are looking to recruit players who are prepared to compete for their place in the side.
Per Goal's Dejan Kalinic, the coach recognised the perception held by some that his side are the world's best can both help and hinder them in the transfer market:
"It's easier if players see you as that. If they see you are successful, it's easier to get into talks with players.
"But on the other side, it's more difficult the better your team is because they ask questions like, 'where and when would I play?'
"We need players who want to be part of this, who want to fight for their spot, who want to make the next step together with us, who want to develop and improve so that's it."
Jack Sear of the same outlet shared further comments:
Klopp: “It depends on what you want – is it a good age for selling? Probably not. But is it a good age for performing? Yes. So there’s a lot of things we have to think about. It’s an interesting period.”
It's hard to dispute that Liverpool are the best team in the world this season.
They're the reigning European champions—having reached the last two UEFA Champions League finals—and they're also the world champions having won the FIFA Club World Cup in December.
What's more, after racking up 97 points in the Premier League last season, losing just once in the process, they're already on 76 in this campaign after 26 matches having picked up 25 wins and one draw.
As a result of their incredible form, they're 19 points clear of Manchester City atop the table, and they're likely to extend that lead significantly before the Citizens next play a league fixture:
The Reds' success has come from consistently strong team performances.
As such, there's little weakness to be found in their first XI, so unless the club splash out on a marquee superstar player, any incoming recruits will need to earn their position in the team.
For example, Liverpool spent an initial £39 million to sign Fabinho from Monaco in the summer of 2018, and he didn't even play for the club in the Premier League until October 20 that year.
Given everything they've won since and are likely to win in the coming years, there will likely be no shortage of players willing to follow a similar path.
Brendan Rodgers Denies Leicester City Have Approached Liverpool's Adam Lallana
Feb 20, 2020
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - JANUARY 05: Adam Lallana of Liverpool during the FA Cup Third Round match between Liverpool and Everton at Anfield on January 5, 2020 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)
Rodgers told reporters that his club have not made a move to sign the 31-year-old, who will be available on a free transfer at the end of the season.
"I've seen a lot of stuff around Adam and that we've approached Liverpool, which isn't the case. He's at the stage of his contract where he will have options.
"Adam is a fantastic player and one I brought into Liverpool. I have been aware of his talents since he was a young player at Southampton.
"But I don't need to speak about that now. We've spoken about that all through January. I don't need to speak about the summer transfer window. I would only add he is a top-class player."
Lallana looks set to leave Anfield at the end of the season after five years there. The Reds are willing to let him depart for free with no contract talks scheduled, according to Mandeep Sanghera of BBC Sport.
The attacking midfielder moved to the Reds from Southampton in July 2014 after an impressive campaign with the Saints, as highlighted by Opta:
71 - Adam Lallana created 71 chances (incl. assists) during the 2013/14 Premier League; more than any other English player. Spark.
The midfielder enjoyed a bright start to his Liverpool career and was an important player in his first two seasons but has since been blighted by injuries and has fallen down the pecking order.
He has made just three Premier League starts this season, with his only goal coming in the 1-1 draw with Manchester United at Old Trafford in October:
Adam Lallana's first Premier League goal since May 2017...
Serie A clubs AC Milan and Lazio have also been credited with interest in the former England international, according to Calciomercato (h/t Sean Lunt at Sport Witness).
Lallana has proved through his career that he's an intelligent player who can provide goals and assists from midfield. He will turn 32 in May but could be a shrewd acquisition on a free transfer provided he can put his injury problems behind him.
Leganes Exec: 'Unfair' Martin Braithwaite Barcelona Transfer 'Hugely Damaging'
Feb 20, 2020
LEGANES, SPAIN - FEBRUARY 02: Braithwaite of CD Leganes reacts during the Liga match between CD Leganes and Real Sociedad at Estadio Municipal de Butarque on February 02, 2020 in Leganes, Spain. (Photo by Quality Sport Images/Getty Images)
Leganes director general Martin Ortega has labelled Barcelona's transfer of Martin Braithwaite "unfair" and said it's "hugely damaging" for the relegation-threatened club.
The Catalans announced his capture on Thursday, using his mandatory €18 million buyout clause to add the Dane as an emergency injury replacement. Barcelona received permission to do so outside the transfer window because Ousmane Dembele suffered a long-term injury.
Leganes had no choice in the matter and can not sign a replacement of their own, something Ortega thought isn't right:
"We would understand this rule applying if there were a mutual agreement between clubs, but the current rules go against equality between clubs. We'll do whatever it takes in a situation that causes irreparable harm"
"The player has been a gentleman and a professional. Yesterday he trained completely normally, knowing he could get injured. We'd like to thank him, his sporting performance has been immense."
The move means Leganes have lost their two best attacking weapons in a little over a month, with Youssef En-Nesyri joining Sevilla in January. The chances of Los Pepineros surviving the relegation battle seem slim at best as a result.
Ben Hayward of the London Evening Standard thought it was deeply unfair on the La Liga minnows:
Rules are rules and Barça have not broken any here, but this allows one of the world's richest clubs to bring in a player (having shipped out two forwards in January), while a team with one of the smallest budgets in LaLiga are powerless to prevent it.
According to Ramon Fuentes of Sport, La Liga are already looking at amending the rule to exclude buyout clauses in the future.
Under the current rule, Spanish clubs can ask permission to sign an injury replacement outside the transfer window. Any target has to be a free agent or already registered in Spain. Because buyout clauses are mandatory in La Liga, there's no need to negotiate with clubs if the team is willing to pay the full amount.
That creates a major issue for La Liga's smaller clubs. Sports writer Samuel Marsden explained how players and agents have no incentive to agree to a big clause if their goal is to take a step up in the future:
players/agents have to agree them as well I believe. Often they will hope Leganes etc a stepping stone so won’t want massive clauses that can trap them.
Braithwaite's €18 million clause at Leganes hardly presented a problem for Barcelona, who promptly inserted a massive €300 million buyout clause into his new deal.
The Catalans parted with Abel Ruiz and Carles Perez in January without signing replacements, while an injury to Luis Suarez meant they were short on depth. Dembele then suffered a hamstring injury shortly after the transfer window closed, further reducing their attacking options.
TOPSHOT - Barcelona's Argentinian forward Lionel Messi (L) celebrates with Barcelona's Brazilian forward Neymar (R) after scoring a goal during the Spanish league football match FC Barcelona vs RC Celta de Vigo at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona on March 4, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / LLUIS GENE (Photo credit should read LLUIS GENE/AFP via Getty Images)
Lionel Messi has said former team-mate Neymar "really wants to come back to Barcelona" and has backed a move for Inter Milan striker and Argentina team-mate Lautaro Martinez.
Neymar, 28, has been linked with a return to Barca effectively since he joined Paris Saint-Germain for €222 million in August 2017, with speculation again building around a possible reunion this summer.
Six-time Ballon d'Or-winner Messi, 32, told Mundo Deportivo (h/t Sport) he and his team-mates did their best to convince the star to stay but that Neymar is itching for a comeback:
"It bothered me at the time and we tried to convince him not to do it. But we all want to win and have the best players around us. He's one of the best players in the world and he brought a lot to the team. But it's understandable that people would see it as leaving in a bad way."
"He is desperate to return and has always appeared to regret his decision. He did a lot to come back and that would be the first step in making it happen. He was always fine at Barca, performing at a very high level. He's a different type of player who is difficult to stop one-on-one and scores goals.
Neymar has scored 67 goals and recorded 39 assists in 77 total appearances for PSG, winning two Ligue 1 titles and with a third seemingly on its way as they lead this season's table by 10 points.
Their domestic dominance hasn't transitioned into European success, however, and the French side have fallen in the UEFA Champions League round of 16 in each of Neymar's first two campaigns at the club.
Optus Sport illustrated how Barcelona haven't been entirely smart with how they've invested their funds from the Neymar sale, including the £105 million purchase of Philippe Coutinho (now on loan at Bayern Munich):
Imagine if Barcelona used Neymar's fee like Liverpool re-invested after Coutinho... 🤑
Barca would likely be required to spend an almost-identical—if not greater—sum than the one they received to re-sign Neymar, although his contract is due to expire in 2022.
Neymar returned from a four-match injury lay-off when PSG lost 2-1 at Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League last 16 on Tuesday.
His comments to RMC Sport (h/t Sky Sports) after the game suggested there's tension at the Parc des Princes:
"It is difficult to spend four matches without playing, but, unfortunately, it was not my choice.
"It was a choice made by the club, the doctors. They took this decision and I did not like it. We had lots of discussions about this because I wanted to play.
"I felt good but the club was scared. In the end, I am the one who suffers."
It might be wiser of Barcelona to sign Martinez, not least because Messi appears to be a major fan of the Inter frontman, who has also scored nine goals in 17 games for Argentina.
Messi lauded his compatriot's quality and added:
"He's spectacular. He's got a lot of impressive qualities. I can see he's going to become a great player, he's exploded on to the scene now and is showing what he's capable of. He's very strong, beats his man and scores goals. He'll fight with anyone in the box, holds on to the ball, and can produce moments by himself. He's got a lot of quality and is a very complete player."
When asked whether Martinez could form a fruitful partnership with him and Luis Suarez, Messi replied:
"It would be incredible to all play together. I hope that they could all come here and we could fight for everything, including the Champions League. Lautaro has a lot in common with Luis, both are ready strong and use their bodies well, holding on to the ball. They both score goals too. They are very similar."
The 22-year-old has enjoyed a breakout campaign at the San Siro, netting 16 times in 22 outings across all competitions, two short of matching his career-best total (18 goals for Racing Club in 2017-18).
Barca have had to rely heavily on Messi in attack since Suarez, 33, was ruled out for four months with a knee injury in January.
The club announced on Thursday that they had completed the emergency signing of striker Martin Braithwaite from Leganes on a four-and-a-half-year deal. His contract comes with a €300 million (£251.7 million) release clause, with the deal made possible after Ousmane Dembele was ruled out for around six months. However, Barca will likely look for a more elite option to replenish their attacking corps for the long term.
Martinez's international record includes an impressive run of eight goals in 13 games for La Albiceleste across 2019, and Statman Dave highlighted his attacking prowess in Serie A:
Lautaro Martínez is averaging 4.3 shots per game in Serie A this season, only Cristiano Ronaldo (5.6) is averaging more.
Juan Jimenez of AS wrote in December that Barcelona hope to sign the South American, whose release clause will be €111 million (£93 million) during the first two weeks of July 2020.
Suarez has a contract at the Camp Nou until 2021 and will need replacing in the near future, with Messi seemingly clear over whom he would like to see take over his position in attack.
Martin Braithwaite Joins Barcelona in 4.5-Year Deal with €300M Buyout Clause
Feb 20, 2020
LEGANES, SPAIN - FEBRUARY 16: (BILD ZEITUNG OUT) Martin Braithwaite of CD Leganes controls the ball during the Liga match between CD Leganes and Real Betis Balompie at Estadio Municipal de Butarque on February 16, 2020 in Leganes, Spain. (Photo by DeFodi Images via Getty Images)
Barcelona will officially unveil Martin Braithwaite as their latest signing on Thursday, when he will put pen to paper on a contract until 2024 that includes a €300 million buyout clause.
The Blaugrana shared the contract details and the timeline of his official presentation:
📋 This is the schedule for @MartinBraith's presentation as a Barça player: ✍ 6pm: Contract signing 📸 6.45pm: Photo session on the pitch at the Camp Nou. 👋 🏟 7.15pm: Presentation and press conference 📺 Follow live on https://t.co/A1WiJBXvhLpic.twitter.com/sxfnAqOOvn
The Denmark international will cost the Catalans €18 million, the total of his buyout clause. Braithwaite joins from fellow La Liga club Leganes.
Barcelona were able to sign the 28-year-old outside of the transfer window thanks to a rule that allows La Liga clubs to make moves for injury cover. Per Sport,they were given permission to add a replacement for Ousmane Dembele on Monday.
Under La Liga rules, clubs can only add players who are free agents or who are already registered in Spain.
Braithwaite has netted six times for Leganes in La Liga this season, leading the way for the team. He previously played for Esbjerg, Toulouse and Middlesbrough.
The move is somewhat controversial, with Leganes powerless to prevent their most productive forward from leaving because of a mandatory buyout clause. They are in the midst of a battle against relegation and can't sign a replacement outside the transfer window.
As theLondon Evening Standard's Ben Hayward observed, the minnows have lost two of their best players in the space of a little more than a month, with Youssef En-Nesyri joining Sevilla in January:
Rules are rules and Barça have not broken any here, but this allows one of the world's richest clubs to bring in a player (having shipped out two forwards in January), while a team with one of the smallest budgets in LaLiga are powerless to prevent it.
Leganés Director General Martín Ortega on Braithwaite: "We find ourselves in a hugely damaging situation. We can't understand the current rules that mean a club, suffering a long-term injury, can unilaterally carry out an operation and pass the problem onto another club."
Barcelona parted with Abel Ruiz and Carles Perez in January and failed to sign replacements, leaving them dangerously low on depth. Luis Suarez has been sidelined since January 9, and Dembele had surgery to fix a hamstring issue earlier in February, per Barcelona's official website.
Braithwaite will provide valuable depth for a team that has been too reliant on Lionel Messi, Antoine Griezmann and Ansu Fati of late. All three have shown signs of fatigue, and they may now be able to rest their legs ahead of the stretch run.
AMIENS, FRANCE - FEBRUARY 15: Mauro Icardi of Paris Saint-Germain looks on during warmup before the Ligue 1 match between Amiens and Paris at Stade de la Licorne on February 15, 2020 in Amiens, France. (Photo by Aurelien Meunier/Getty Images)
Wanda Nara, Mauro Icardi's wife and agent, has said she does not know where the striker will be next season after his Paris Saint-Germain loan spell ends.
Icardi joined PSG from Inter Milan on a season-long deal back in September after new Nerazzurri manager Antonio Conte excluded him from the squad.
He has thrived at PSG, slotting seamlessly into Thomas Tuchel's superlative attack:
Mauro Icardi has scored 16 goals in Ligue 1 and the Champions League this season, 11 of them coming from inside the six-yard box.
According to Fabrizio Romano and Ed Aarons of the Guardian, the French champions have an option to make the deal permanent in the summer for €65 million (£59 million).
But Nara said nothing has been decided about Icardi's future, per Chi magazine (h/t Football Italia):
"Will Mauro go to Juventus? I really don't know. I don't know if next year we will return to Milan or Paris. In football, you never know. He will choose and we will follow him. It's difficult for you to argue because I know Mauro very well and I know exactly what he wants as a footballer and what makes him feel good as a man. I will follow him in his choices as wife and as his agent for extra security."
Icardi, 27, had to watch from the bench on Tuesday as PSG once again failed to find their best form for a UEFA Champions League knockout game.
Visiting Borussia Dortmund for the first leg of their last-16 clash, PSG lost 2-1:
Neymar scored what could be an invaluable away goal for the visitors and PSG are still very much in the tie, not least as Dortmund have won only three of their last 13 away games in the Champions League.
But the result means PSG are, once again, under enormous pressure in Europe as they look to avoid a fourth consecutive exit in the first knockout round.
The return leg will take place on March 11 at the Parc des Princes.
In the interim, PSG will look to maintain their stranglehold on the Ligue 1 title race, and they also face Lyon in the semi-finals of the Coupe de France.
Salomon Rondon Says 'There Was Something' to Manchester United January Rumours
Feb 19, 2020
Salomon Rondon of Venezuela celebrates after scoring against Bolivia during an international friendly football match at the Olimpico stadium, in Caracas, on October 10, 2019. (Photo by YURI CORTEZ / AFP) (Photo by YURI CORTEZ/AFP via Getty Images)
Former Newcastle United and West Bromwich Albion striker Salomon Rondon has said there was substance in rumours linking him with Manchester United in January.
Gary Jacob and Martin HardyofThe Times reported the Red Devils were weighing a move for the Venezuelan, now at Chinese Super League side Dalian Professional, before they opted to sign Odion Ighalo from Shanghai Greenland Shenhua.
Rondon told AS (h/t Sport Witness' Naveen Ullal): "There was something. It was not smoke. They were rumours and very strong. In the end, it could not be specified, and now I have to focus on Dalian."
The striker joined West Brom in 2015 after scoring 28 goals in 58 games for Zenit St. Petersburg. He scored the same number of goals in 120 games for the Baggies before joining Newcastle on loan for the 2018-19 season.
He played 33 times for the Magpies, notching 12 goals and seven assists. All but one of those strikes came in the Premier League, and he played a key role in Newcastle's survival last season under Rafa Benitez.
Because of Newcastle's defensive approach, he would typically cut an isolated figure at St James' Park, often being the lone player in an opponent's half.
However, his superb hold-up play made him perfect for the role, allowing him to keep the ball under pressure from defenders and bring in the likes of Miguel Almiron and Ayoze Perez when the Magpies launched a counter-attack.
As football journalist Simon Edwards observed during last summer's Copa America, he's similarly effective for Venezuela:
Salomon Rondon is exceptionally good, particularly for the way Venezuela play.
He wins every 50/50, always offers, brings in teammates, makes the right decisions, wins all the headers and poses a goal threat.
A wonderfully industrial yet intelligent modern target man.
Rondon then followed Benitez to Dalian last summer, where he has five goals and three assists in 12 games.
He and Ighalo are both 30, but the former experienced English football much more recently. The Nigerian left Watford in January 2017 after scoring once in 20 matches that season, though in the previous campaign, he had netted 18 goals in 42 games.
Rondon would likely have been a more useful acquisition than Ighalo, but Ighalo is only on loan at Old Trafford until the end of the season, so it was a relatively low-risk move for the Red Devils.
Report: Barcelona Closing in on Martin Braithwaite; Deal Could Be Done This Week
Feb 18, 2020
MADRID, SPAIN - FEBRUARY 16: Martin Braithwaite of Leganes during the La Liga Santander match between Leganes v Real Betis Sevilla at the Estadio Municipal de Butarque on February 16, 2020 in Madrid Spain (Photo by David S. Bustamante/Soccrates/Getty Images)
Barcelona are reportedly closing in on the signing of Martin Braithwaite as their injury replacement for Ousmane Dembele.
According to Sport, the Blaugrana have decided to pay the forward's €18 million buyout clause. The deal could be concluded on Tuesday or Wednesday after La Liga gave the club permission to sign cover for Dembele on Monday.
La Liga allows the signing of a replacement player outside the transfer window as cover for a long-term injury. The player has to be a free agent or already registered in Spain, however.
VALENCIA, SPAIN - FEBRUARY 08: Martin Braithwaite Christensen (L) of CD Leganes competes for the ball with Ruben Vezo of Levante UD during the Liga match between Levante UD and CD Leganes at Ciutat de Valencia on February 8, 2020 in Valencia, Spain. (Phot
Braithwaite's agents are said to be negotiating a deal until 2023.
The 28-year-old has scored six goals in La Liga so far this season, leading 19th-placed Leganes in the scoring charts. His last goal came in the 2-2 draw against Real Valladolid on January 3:
He joined Los Pepineros on loan from Middlesbrough in January 2019, and the move was made permanent in the summer. He's also a full Denmark international.
The decision to add Braithwaite is somewhat surprising, with several other options available:
Deportes Cuatro say Cristhian Stuani is Barça's no.1 target if they're allowed to sign an emergency striker, ahead of Ángel, Loren, Willian José https://t.co/PiNMxEBNpk
Real Sociedad's Willian Jose seemed a particularly good fit after losing his starting position to the in-form Alexander Isak. Club manager Imanol Alguacil told reporters (h/t AS) the team wouldn't part with him for less than his €70 million release clause, however.
According to Sport, Getafe's Angel Rodriguez has a buyout clause of just €10 million. He was another strong candidate and netted at the Camp Nou in Saturday's 2-1 loss.
The signing of Braithwaite is a controversial one, with Leganes powerless to stop one of their best players from leaving due to a mandatory buyout clause. The club are in the midst of a relegation battle and can't sign a replacement.
Spanish football writers Dermot Corrigan and Colin Millar both thought it a bad look for the league and noted Barcelona put themselves in this position with poor squad planning:
Especially as its hardly a surprise Barca are short of strikers / Dembele and Suarez were already in January / they allowed Carles Perez and Abel Ruiz to leave for accounting reasons.
This entire episode comes about because Barcelona made a total mess of their squad planning, and willingly sold two young forwards - without replacements - less than three weeks ago. Now Leganes are punished. This is just wrong. So, so wrong.
The Catalans parted with prospects Abel Ruiz and Carles Perez in January without signing replacements. Luis Suarez was already sidelined with an injury when those two left, and Dembele has a lengthy injury history that should have made the Blaugrana more cautious.
As a result, Lionel Messi, Antoine Griezmann and Ansu Fati are the only remaining true forwards in the squad. Full-back Junior Firpo has provided emergency cover in a more advanced role, but with Jordi Alba suffering an injury against Getafe, he's needed in defence.
Dayot Upamecano Says 'Clubs Love Me' Amid Barcelona, Manchester City Rumours
Feb 18, 2020
MUNICH, GERMANY - FEBRUARY 09: (BILD ZEITUNG OUT) Dayot Upamecano of RB Leipzig looks on during the Bundesliga match between FC Bayern Muenchen and RB Leipzig at Allianz Arena on February 9, 2020 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Roland Krivec/DeFodi Images via Getty Images)
RB Leipzig defender Dayot Upamecano has fuelled the transfer speculation surrounding him, saying he's loved by clubs and will make a decision on his future in the summer.
The Frenchman made the comments in an interview with RMC Sport ( h/t Football Espana's Colin Millar): "As I said, first I focus on RB Leipzig and then about what I intend to do, but there are clubs that love me. I will speak well with my agents and my parents at the end of the season. And we will make the right decision."
The 21-year-old has been one of Leipzig's key players this season, playing a huge role in their bid to win the Bundesliga title. He was heavily involved in the recent draw against Bayern Munich:
Dayot Upamecano vs Bayern
37 passes 81% pass accuracy 2 dribbles won 2 tackles won 4 interceptions 8 clearances 2 aerials won
— Football Talent Scout - Jacek Kulig (@FTalentScout) February 9, 2020
He's long been touted as one of the top defensive talents in Europe. Upamecano is a strong and willing tackler with a solid aerial presence, but he's also a remarkable passer.
His skill set can lead to some incredible numbers:
Upamecano is a truly incredible player.
A center back who pulls strings like a regista, has the athleticism of a fullback, and has exceptional defensive qualities. pic.twitter.com/eoXjjj78QI
His younger compatriot Ibrahima Konate upstaged him at times last season and had a good start to the 2019-20 campaign, but since he went down with an injury in October, Upamecano has once again assumed his role as the team's defensive leader.
He's been a part of the Red Bull family since 2015, rising through the ranks at Liefering, Salzburg and Leipzig. Upamecano has yet to make his full national team debut, but that only seems a matter of time.
RB are enjoying their best season yet and sit just one point behind Bayern in the Bundesliga title race. They have also advanced to the knockout stages of the UEFA Champions League, where they'll face Tottenham.
Bremen's Japanese forward Yuya Osako (L) and Leipzig's French defender Dayot Upamecano vie for the ball during the German first division Bundesliga football match RB Leipzig vs SV Werder Bremen, in Leipzig, eastern Germany on February 15, 2020. (Photo by
Upamecano will be suspended for the first leg of the tie with Spurs, and with Konate and Willi Orban sidelined, Leipzig face a defensive crisis going into the match.
A summer transfer seems likely for Upamecano, with his contract set to run out in 2021. If he doesn't commit to a new deal, Leipzig will likely opt to move him before his transfer value drops due to his short-term contract.
Raheem Sterling's Agent Says He's 'Focused on Manchester City' Amid Exit Rumours
Feb 17, 2020
WOLVERHAMPTON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 27: Raheem Sterling of Manchester City celebrates scoring his second goal during the Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Manchester City at Molineux on December 27, 2019 in Wolverhampton, United Kingdom. (Photo by Visionhaus)
The agent of Manchester City star Raheem Sterling has said the player is "solely focused" on the club despite rumours of a player exodus following news they'll be banned from the UEFA Champions League until the 2022-23 season.
The Mirror's John Cross wrote Real Madrid have shown interest in Sterling after UEFA announced City's punishment for breaching financial fair play (FFP) laws.
Sterling's agent, Aidy Ward, told the Mirror: "Raheem is solely focused onManchester Cityand will not be distracted by any talk of transfers to any club at the moment."
Emily Mee of Sky News noted City were fined €30 million (£24.9 million) in addition to their Champions League suspension, which they will appeal through the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
El MundoDeportivo (h/t Football Espana) reported Real also had their eyes on midfield talisman Kevin De Bruyne should any of City's stars become available following news of their potential ban.
Sterling, 25, joined the Citizens from Liverpool in 2015 for £49 million, and his contract at the Etihad Stadium isn't due to expire until June 2023.
The England star has excelled since moving to Manchester and gone on to become a key figure for club and country, scoring 89 goals and recording 71 assists in 226 appearances for City.
Sky Sports News reporter Kaveh Solhekol provided quotes from manager Pep Guardiola, who said he intends to stay at the club regardless of their punishment—even if it includes relegation:
Pep Guardiola has told Man City players: “Whatever league we are in, I will still be here. Even if they put us in League Two, I will still be here. This is a time for sticking together." City CEO Ferran Soriano told players: “Trust me like I trust you, this will be dropped.”
The defending Premier League champions are accused of overstating sponsorship revenue in their accounts between 2012 and 2016, a tactic that would have helped the club bypass FFP regulations.
Sports lawyer John Mehrzad QC suggested City's alleged actions could be in breach of player contracts, which may see stars leave the club for nothing, per James Ducker and Mike McGrath of the Telegraph.
City issued a statement criticising UEFA's decision and the manner in which the investigation into their spending was conducted.
The statement described the matter as "a case initiated by UEFA, prosecuted by UEFA and judged by UEFA," European football's governing body.
Sterling came off injured late on when City lost 2-0 at Tottenham Hotspur on February 2, and the speedster isn't expected to recover in time for Wednesday's rescheduled Premier League clash with West Ham United.
