Why Manchester City Must Make Liverpool's Raheem Sterling a Transfer Priority

The news that Raheem Sterling, Liverpool’s 20-year-old forward, has turned down a new £100k-per-week deal to commit his long-term future to the Anfield side is likely to have clubs across Europe on red alert.

In an interview with Natalie Pirks of the BBC (embedded below), Sterling said his decision to turn down Liverpool’s contract offer, which manager Brendan Rodgers had previously described as “an incredible deal for a young player,” was nothing to do with money.

Liverpool are likely to be unimpressed about him conducting the interview and discussing contract talks in such a public way.

Sterling’s current £35k-per-week deal runs until 2017, and according to Andy Hunter writing in the Guardian, talks over a new one have been ongoing since October. Clearly, Sterling is weighing up his options and could be tempted by a move to a club who guarantee him success.

And Manchester City, who are set to reshape their squad this summer after a season of underwhelming displays and disappointing results, will surely make their interest known if it becomes clear Sterling wants out of Anfield.

City are in real need of additional pace, and with their ageing squad struggling to fulfil next season’s home-grown criteria, a young, British player like Sterling, who has world-class potential, will surely be on their wishlist.

Manuel Pellegrini, the City manager, and Txiki Begiristain, the club’s sporting director, are set to embark on a vital summer-spending programme. Free from the financial fair play restrictions that hindered their plans going into this season, City know the makeup of their squad is in need of change.

What they lack the most is a player with pace who can carry the ball, which is exactly what Sterling offers in abundance. Every other top club in Europe appears to have a player with that ability, yet the closest thing City have is Jesus Navas, an excellent squad player, but hardly one of Europe’s elite.

Chelsea have Eden Hazard, Bayern Munich Arjen Robben, Barcelona Lionel Messi and Real Madrid boast both Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale. It’s a key facet of any top side, allowing teams to play swiftly on the break.

If City were to sign Sterling this summer, which there’s no guarantee of given the competition they would face and the fact Liverpool may well dig their heels in and make him stay, he would be a costly but worthwhile acquisition. It is likely to take somewhere in the region of £50 million to prize him away from Liverpool’s grasp—but it's a price worth paying for such a supremely talented young player.

Players of his calibre are few and far between, particularly the ones who fit City’s needs so perfectly. And, given his age, the club would hope he can remain a central part of their plans for years to come.

Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

And with City set for a serious reshuffle this summer, they may well be able to make the finances work. Micah Richards, Alvaro Negredo, John Guidetti, James Milner and Scott Sinclair are all likely to be off the wage bill next season, with Bacary Sagna, Edin Dzeko and Aleksandar Kolarov possibly open to offers. It's likely there will be plenty of room to manoeuvre for City in the next transfer window.

It would be an expensive deal, and a host of top clubs will also be interested in one of the finest young talents in football, but City must make their interest known. Sterling is ideal in every way.

Rob Pollard is Bleacher Report's lead Manchester City correspondent and will be following the club from a Manchester base throughout the 2014-15 season. All quotes are obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Follow him on Twitter: @RobPollard.