There are reports Real Madrid are preparing to test Man City’s resolve with an audacious offer of Gareth Bale plus £70m in exchange for Raheem Sterling.

According to Sky Sports, representatives from Real will travel to watch Sterling’s performances for England next month – at home to Montenegro and away to Kosovo – before deciding on the final details of a proposal to City.

Sterling’s representatives met with Real’s general director Jose Angel Sanchez in the summer in a failed bid to tempt City’s prized possession to the Bernabeu.

However, Los Blancos President Florentino Perez knows another 12 months without a deal will see Sterling’s £150m present valuation increase further still.

Privately City, and in particular manager Pep Guardiola, are understood to have little interest in signing the 30-year old Welshman.

Equally if Bale chooses to remain with Real, then Perez will have to part with a figure close to the world record £198m paid to Barcelona by PSG for Neymar.

Sterling, who has scored 7 goals in 10 appearances so far this season, still has three years left on the £280,000 a week deal he signed a year ago and is unlikely to demand that City let him go.