Real Madrid Transfer News: Raheem Sterling Rumours, Everton Pursuing Casemiro

Raheem Sterling has been advised not to join Real Madrid this year by former Liverpool forward John Barnes, while Everton are doing their homework on Casemiro ahead of a summer move for the midfielder.

Liverpool star Sterling has been fervently linked with a move to the Bernabeu in recent months, but Barnes recently told Hinch.as (h/t FourFourTwo) that his development would be better served at Anfield:

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If I was Raheem Sterling I would stay with Liverpool for the next three years.

I've seen it with other young players, a lot to do with their agents, a lot to do with the money they have been offered, that they rush off to big clubs.

Of course Liverpool is a big club, but the temptation must be to go to Real Madrid or Barcelona or wherever, but the danger is that you can be lost to the game, and I can give you so many examples, like Jack Rodwell who went too early to Manchester City and Scott Sinclair who also went to Manchester City.

With all due respect to clubs like that, they might turn out to be worse for them, and they end up going back and then not getting a move again.

I would advise young players not to rush, but to stay at their clubs until they are 23 or 24. I went to Liverpool at the age of 23 by which time I was a 35-cap international player who could handle it.

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It's a conundrum that many a young player faces in the modern era, thriving in their emerging years to earn the attention of Europe's giants, who can afford to make them highly paid stars at an early age.

As the reigning champions of the continent, Real Madrid would obviously seem an attractive option to most players, but Barnes goes on to detail the importance of first-team football:

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Raheem Sterling going to Real Madrid probably won't play every week, probably will play under enormous pressure to perform as a £50 million superstar, whereas at Liverpool the fans will accept that he doesn't play well all the time. I would urge him and players like [Everton's] Ross Barkley to stay where they are, and move clubs in three or four years time.

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Sterling may look at the current situation of record-breaking transfer Gareth Bale to analyse his chances, considering the 20-year-old would be competing against the Welshman for a place if he were to move to Spain.

Bale has been successful by normal standards in Madrid, winning the highest honours in club football since moving last summer, but the wing wizard is no longer as prominent a star as he was with Tottenham Hotspur.

Mike Hewitt/Getty Images

Sterling plays a similarly important role at Anfield and is currently engaged in talks to extend his deal, as his current contract is set to expire in 2017.

James Pearce of the Liverpool Echo recently highlighted the England international as a more crucial member than maestro Philippe Coutinho:

With Steven Gerrard departing the club this summer, Brendan Rodgers' side will need to do some convincing in their bid to retain top talent, with Sterling sitting as one of their highest priorities.

Club chairman Tom Werner spoke to the Liverpool Echo (h/t Daily Mail's Dominic King) last week, saying he's confident Liverpool can tie the player down on new terms:

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All I can say is that I’m hopeful that we’ll conclude a deal. Obviously it’s important for us. He’s an exceptional player.

Brendan and Ian Ayre are quite involved and Brendan is talking to Raheem about this and I hope and expect a very positive outcome that is good for Raheem—and good for the club.

I would say that I’m confident that we will reach an agreement that works for all parties.

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Another Merseyside link Real Madrid share comes from Goodison Park, with Everton keen to land the signature of Casemiro once his loan spell at Porto comes to an end.

According to the Mirror's John Cross, Toffees boss Roberto Martinez is eyeing a move for the midfielder with Real "believed to be considering a loan deal for next season."

Denis Doyle/Getty Images

The Brazilian is currently at the Estadio do Dragao on temporary terms and was a key player for the Dragons en route to a 1-1 draw against Basel during the away leg of their Champions League round-of-16 tie this week.

WhoScored.com named Casemiro the man of the match for his display, in which he was unfortunate not to guide the Dragons to victory after seeing a goal ruled out for offside:

Los Blancos chief Carlo Ancelotti may be more open to letting Casemiro leave since his January signing of Cruzeiro anchor Lucas Silva, Casemiro's compatriot and another promising central-midfield talent.

A lot will depend on the futures of Sami Khedira and Asier Illarramendi, however, with the former's deal poised to expire this summer and the latter regularly sitting on the sidelines.

Sergei Grits/Associated Press

Casemiro has made 18 appearances for Porto in the Primeira Liga this season and is enjoying a spell of first-team football, having struggled to carve out a first-team reputation in Spain's capital.

Martinez has made great use of loan signings during his time at Goodison Park, but there could be a list of other clubs waiting to take Casemiro's services, should he become available.