Barcelona are reportedly keen for an option-to-buy deal to be included in any loan move for Manchester City's Raheem Sterling.
The 26-year-old continues to struggle for regular starts under Pep Guardiola and has admitted that he could be tempted into a move elsewhere.
Sterling supposedly still wants to fight for his place in the City XI, but Barcelona are being tipped to test the Premier League champions' resolve in the January window.
According to The Mirror, Barcelona plan to initially sign Sterling on loan over the winter before triggering a clause to make his deal permanent ahead of the 2022-23 season.
The report adds that Barcelona hope City will be more inclined to send him out to a different league rather than an English rival, but they want a definitive answer in the first week of December.
Sterling boasts two goals and two assists from 15 games in all tournaments for City this term and is due to become a free agent in 2023.
Ben Knapton
