Gossip: Sterling playing hardball over contract, Juventus want Juan Mata

Manchester City are facing the prospect of losing two of their best young players, according to reports today, with Ben Foden and Raheem Sterling possibly on their way out of the club for a pittance.

Raheem Sterling, the Manchester Evening News believe, is driving a hard bargain with his agent in order to get the best deal he can from his club. However, the article argues that Sterling is unlikely to get a similar deal offered from any other club, and that under Pep Guardiola the club offer the best chance for trophies, too. Sterling, though, has just a year left on his contract and will soon be free to negotiate a summer move to clubs abroad.

Another player who could be off to mainland Europe is Foden, City’s 18-year-old midfielder, the Stockport Iniesta. Borussia Dortmund are reported in the Daily Mail to be lurking for the youngster, who has 18 months left on his current deal. If the German club could strike a deal with Foden to leave, they might only have to pay a development fee of £175,000, well below his market fee. Dortmund might be able to tempt Foden by using the example of Jadon Sancho, a regular in the first team in the Bundesliga and now a full England international.

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Mata set for Manchester United departure

Across the city, Manchester United are also facing a battle to keep a couple of their own midfielders. Juventus are keeping tabs on Juan Mata, who has yet to be tied down to a new deal. The Italian champions believe that Mata could be a bargain, and despite his age and lack of pace, might flourish in the Italian league.

Mata is unsure of his future under Jose Mourinho, though the manager would like to keep him. The Evening Standard reports that another player who could leave is Ander Herrera, whose contract is also running out and who is struggling for regular appearances this season.

Real Madrid still want Conte

Reports earlier this week had suggested that former Chelsea boss Antonio Conte was out of the running for the Real Madrid boss. Senior dressing room figures and directors were unsure over his suitability for the club, and he had made salary demands that the club were unwilling to fulfil. Conte also wanted to take advantage of the crisis at the club by demanding certain transfers and dressing room control.

That has led Florentino Perez to consider interim manager Santiago Solari, with the caretaker given until the international break to prove his worth. There are four games left before club football is interrupted, but AS believes that Conte and Solari are the only names under consideration to replace Julen Lopetegui.