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Raheem Sterling is not yet 21 and has turned his nose up at £100,000-a-week.

Does that really sound like the type of character Manchester City want to build their future around?

The depressing truth is - probably yes.

In just about any other walk of life red flags would be popping up all over the place when it comes to the question of whether the Premier League champions should launch a bid for Liverpool’s contract rebel.

It would be easy to dismiss him as a spoiled product of the Premier League age.

A pampered prima donna with too much, too soon, who’s out of touch with reality.

He insists his Anfield stand-off is about ambition rather than money - but whatever his motive, Sterling’s reluctance to commit himself to the club that developed him leaves a bitter taste.

The accusation of greed is an easy one to make.

And his claim this week that he is driven by success was hardly supported by the admission that he was ‘flattered’ by the interest of an Arsenal team that won its first trophy in almost a decade last season.

In a summer when City will look to add youth to an ageing squad - in a bid to mount a genuine Champions League challenge over the next five years, could they bank on Sterling being there for the long haul?

He says he would have been happy to sign for Liverpool when they were challenging for the title last season.

A year on - and with their top four hopes fading - he’s got cold feet.

Now City and Arsenal look like attractive prospects. A couple of years down the line, it could be Real Madrid and Barcelona.

That is a concern for the future.

Right now Ferran Soriano and Txiki Begiristain will be alerted to the potential availability of one of Europe’s brightest prospects.

He would also be available at significantly less than the £100m that Manuel Pellegrini quoted when bringing him up in a recent interview.

And even if Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers insists Sterling is not for sale, the club’s owners Fenway Sports Group will not be willing to take a chance on allowing his fee to be set by a tribunal.

Take a look at our gallery of City's dream team for 2015/16 as voted by fans

Time is still on the Merseysiders’ side. Sterling has two years to run on his contract.

Much could depend on City’s determination to test their resolve - and the player’s own actions.

Repeats of Wednesday’s BBC interview would hardly be conducive to maintaining a settled dressing room.

City themselves are no strangers to such antics, which is why they are unlikely to be put off by Sterling’s aggressive move this week.

Was his interview any worse than they’ve had to handle with Yaya Toure, his agent Dimitry Seluck, birthday cake-gate and all that?

Would Sterling be more disruptive than Carlos Tevez?

And would City supporters hold it against him for turning his back on the club where he made his name.

Unlikely.

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That’s the thing about football. One fan’s Judas, is another’s Messiah.

Supporters are quick to accuse want-away players of treachery, yet insist targets should be allowed to achieve their ambitions.

Hypocrisy runs from the boardroom, to the terraces, to the pitch.

Paramount in City’s thoughts as they consider a move for Sterling is what he can bring to the club.

In that sense, there is no question.

Blessed with electrifying pace and dazzling footwork, he would be a thrilling addition to City’s attack.

It is still unclear whether his future lies as a striker or in a deeper role, but his potential is immense.

In return, City could offer him the chance of silverware that he craves.

Not to mention an improvement on that £100,000-a-week contract offer.