United make shock enquiry for Liverpool outcast?

Manchester United have reportedly made a shock enquiry for Liverpool’s Raheem Sterling, according to reports from the Daily Mail and The Times.

Despite sealing the £25 million transfer of Memphis Depay from PSV Eindhoven earlier this week, United have inquired about Sterling’s availability in anticipation that he will ask for a move away from Anfield this summer.

No player has moved directly between United and Liverpool since Phil Chisnall moved to Merseyside in 1964, and Liverpool have reportedly told United in no uncertain terms that they will not be doing business for the England international.

Sterling, who was booed on Tuesday night as he received Liverpool’s Young Player of the Year award, has two years remaining on his contract and Liverpool have made it abundantly clear that they will not sell in the upcoming window.

It is reported that Aidy Ward, Sterling’s agent, has already asked Liverpool to bring forward talks that had been planned to take place at the end of the season to tomorrow, when he is expected to tell Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers and chief executive Ian Ayre that his client seeks a departure.

Chelsea and Manchester City have also been linked with Sterling in the past couple of days, with reports suggesting that City are willing to pay the winger around £150k-a-week to lure him to the Etihad Stadium this summer as part of their push to recruit young British talent.

However, as with their city rivals, it would take an eye-watering bid to tempt Liverpool to sell, with Rodgers vowing to make a stand and retain the services of the 20-year old.

United currently have an abundance of options on the wings, with Angel Di Maria, Ashley Young and Adnan Januzaj currently at the club. With the return of Nani from loan at Sporting Lisbon and the signing of Depay, those options increase further.

This would certainly be a move out of left field, with United manager Louis van Gaal identifying the right-back, central defence, central midfield and striker positions to be his main focus in the transfer window.

However, with £150 million reportedly available for van Gaal to spend, who knows what might happen?