In a recent report, Sport has mentioned that Manchester City winger Raheem Sterling remains Barcelona’s number one target. It is understood that the Mancunian giants are unwilling to let the English wide player go out on loan which could be a stumbling block for Barca as they do not have the financial resources anymore to pull off a permanent transfer for him.
Sterling’s Limited Role At The Etihad Stadium
It has been a campaign of mixed emotions for Sterling as he has struggled to earn regular first-team opportunities in Pep Guardiola’s starting XI. The ex-Liverpool speedster has scored two goals and picked up two assists in 15 matches for his current employers this season across all competitions.
The 26-year-old has seen most of his playing minutes come off the bench which could be why he is only averaging 1.4 shots, 0.7 key passes and 0.9 dribbles per 90 minutes in the Premier League. Sterling has done well to distribute the ball with conviction in the final third, as evidenced by his pass completion rate of 82.3% in the English first division (stats via whoscored).
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Will Sterling Be A Good Choice For Barcelona Boss Xavi?
Sterling can use his quickness and agility to get the better of his marker in the attacking end of the pitch. He can easily get to the byline and is proficient at earning penalties as he has got a low centre of gravity. The Three Lions star can engineer a few inviting chances for his teammates to score. He is also quite effective when it comes to scoring goals consistently at the highest level.
Thus, Sterling will be an excellent addition to the Catalans squad as he will bring plenty of goals and assists to Xavi’s offensive department. The Man City star will also instill a winning mindset to Barca’s dressing room and could help get the best out of the younger players like Ansu Fati, Nico Gonzalez and Gavi at the Nou Camp.
At 26, Sterling is enjoying his prime years at the moment, so he will make an immediate impact at the Catalan club if Xavi can find a way to get a deal done for him in January or at the end of this campaign.
