Raheem Sterling 'would consider a loan move to Barcelona if he is not a regular starter by January'

Raheem Sterling could be opened to a loan move to Barcelona if he fails to cement a regular place in the Manchester City starting XI by January.

The Catalan giants have made no secret of their desire to sign the England forward, whose game time has been reduced under Pep Guardiola this season.

However, their  current financial constraints could make a bid for the 26-year-old problematic.

According to The Times, Sterling is committed to winning back his place in the Manchester City team but could be open to a loan move to Barcelona if all else fails.

Sterling will have to compete with £100million summer signing Jack Grealish - who is starting the majority of matches from the left-hand side thus far.

Phil Foden also played out there during the dominant 2-0 victory at Manchester United in the derby last weekend.

Sportsmail revealed in 2019 that Xavi had earmarked Sterling as a player he wanted to sign should he ever take over at the Nou Camp and Joan Laporta is now looking at structuring a deal.

Sterling also said last month that he would consider going abroad if it meant he would secure regular football.

He said in an interview for the Financial Times Business of Sport US Summit: 'If there was the opportunity to go somewhere else for more game time I would be open to it.

'Football is the most important thing to me, [with the] challenges that I have set myself from a young age and dreams to go abroad as well.

'As an English player all I know is the Premier League and I've always thought one day I'd love to play abroad — see how I would come up against that challenge.'

However, Barcelona's current financial constraints could make a bid for the England striker problematic.

Sterling earns up to £300,000 a week at the Etihad Stadium and Barca would be expected to subsidise a percentage of those wages in a loan deal.

As it stands, Sterling is heading into the final 18 months of his current deal at Manchester City.

He has started just three times in the Premier League this season and was an unused substitute in City's clash with Manchester United at Old Trafford.

It is understood that negotiations over a new deal with Manchester City have reached a standstill.