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Cape Town - Manchester City are reportedly considering offering forward Raheem Sterling a new lucrative contract in a bid to fend off interest from Real Madrid.
Reports suggesting Real are showing an interest could see City open talks with the winger - less than 12 months after he signed his last contract.
The England ace has never made a secret of his desire to maybe play in Spain one day, but the 24-year-old has insisted he is very happy at present at the Etihad Stadium.
Sterling agreed on new terms last year worth a reported £300 000-per-week, making him City's highest earner alongside star midfielder Kevin De Bruyne.
The former Liverpool starlet is contracted until 2023 although reports in Spain have insisted officials at the Bernabeu Stadium are not deterred and may try to entice the player next year.
Sterling has nine goals in ten appearances for club and country this term, with the plaudits arriving on a weekly basis for his eye-catching displays under Pep Guardiola, who has played a big part in taking his game to the next level.
He hit 25 goals for City last season - his best-ever return - earning him the PFA Young Player of the Year and Football Writers' awards in recognition of his domestic treble-winning achievements with his team.
City were ridiculed in some quarters for paying £49m to sign Sterling from Anfield back in 2015, becoming a bizarre hate figure amongst some sections of the media and rival supporters.
The Citizens would certainly be laughing all the way to the bank should they ever consider themselves open to a future sale, with a sensational figure of £200m being touted around.
City, however, have no intention of letting Sterling's head be turned by Madrid's well-known charm offensives, conducted via their preferred mouthpieces.
And there is certainly no immediate rush to sit down with Sterling's advisers at this stage.
City sources have indicated the Premier League champions will look to put their man further out of bounds when the timing is right.
- TeamTalk
