MANCHESTER CITY will ‘block’ a January move to Barcelona for winger Raheem Sterling, according to reports.
The Catalan giants have been linked with a swoop for the England star, who is yet to commit his future to City.
Sterling’s current deal is set to expire in 2023, and he wants assurances over his playing time before penning a new one.
The 26-year-old has admitted that he is interested in playing abroad before the end of his career.
But boss Pep Guardiola is not currently entertaining the idea of letting Sterling go – despite interest from new Barca boss Xavi.
According to ESPN, City do still consider him a key man and aren’t open to letting him go mid-season.
Sterling has started just three of City’s 11 Premier League matches so far this season.
If the reigning Prem champions don’t sell in January, they risk allowing Sterling’s contract to enter its final 12 months come the summer.
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Speaking as part of the FT Business of Sport US Summit, the former Liverpool star admitted: “If there was an opportunity to go somewhere else, I’d be open to it at this moment in time.
“As an English player, all I know is the Premier League.
“I’ve always known that maybe one day, I would love to play abroad and see how I would come up against that challenge.”
Quizzed about which languages he’d like to speak, the Man City ace replied: “I should be learning a few different languages. I quite like the French accent – and Spanish.”
Sterling has won three Premier League titles with City, in addition to an FA Cup and four League Cups.
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