Former Manchester City Michael Ball believes that Raheem Sterling will struggle to earn a move away from the club.
The England international has fallen down the pecking order under Pep Guardiola this season and is beginning to struggle for minutes at the Etihad Stadium.
The 26-year-old has made six Premier League appearances but just two of those have been starts, coming in the opening weekend defeat to Tottenham Hotspur and the recent draw with Southampton.
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Sterling was also a substitute in the Champions League classic against RB Leipzig, which ended 6-3.
However, Ball does not think that many clubs have the financial might to take Sterling away from the Etihad Stadium either in January or next summer because of his current contract, with Barcelona linked last month.
The former Liverpool star has a contract that runs until 2023 and he is valued at £81m by Transfermarkt; per Spotrac, he currently earns a staggering £300,000-per-week.
So Ball believes that, if he is to leave, he may have to acquiesce to a pay cut.
He said: “We’ve seen the big two over in Spain struggling financially. It’s a difficult one.
“There’s not going to be a lot of takers, financially, to keep Raheem on the contract he’s currently on.”