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Real Madrid are preparing a raid on Liverpool for Raheem Sterling.

The Spanish giants have identified the teenage England winger as a future world star, but were planning to wait until next summer before making a move.

Sunday Mirror Sport understands, however, that the European champions are so concerned about the tendonitis knee problem that plagued Cristiano Ronaldo’s World Cup that they want to seal a deal for Sterling now.

The 19-year-old capped a sensational season with Liverpool by being one of England’s few outstanding players in Brazil.

He played in all three games for England as Roy Hodgson’s men bowed out at the group stages with just a single point.

But Sterling’s outstanding contribution against Italy has prompted Madrid to believe he is ready to handle a switch to the Bernabeu.

Madrid are ready to offer £25million-plus - despite still maintaining a strong interest in £70million-rated Liverpool bad boy Luis Suarez.

With Suarez’s future hanging precariously in the balance following another biting outrage which has seen him banned from all football for four months, Brendan Rodgers will be desperate to keep Sterling at Anfield.

And Liverpool are in a strong position to turn down any bids after qualifying for the Champions League. Sterling still has three years left on the £35,000-a-week contract he signed 18 months ago.

(Image: Getty)

And, as revealed by Sunday Mirror Sport last month, Liverpool are any to discuss terms about a new deal that would catapult the Jamaica-born youngster beyond the £100,000-a-week mark.

But Madrid are already compiling a personal profile on Sterling and weighing up whether he will relish a move to Spain. They did the same before spending a world record £86m fee to recruit Gareth Bale from Tottenham last summer.

The impact the Wales international has had at the Bernabeu has encouraged the belief inside Real that signing top line, emerging Premier League stars can pay off for them.

Ronaldo is scheduled to undergo an operation to cure his tendonitis and rehabilitation after surgery could take months.

With Madrid also ready to listen to offers for Argentine winger Angel di Maria, they are in the market for top recruits as they aim for an 11th Champions League triumph and a tilt at recovering the La Liga title from local rivals Atletico Madrid.

Sterling arrived at Liverpool as a 15-year-old in a deal which saw the Reds hand QPR an initial £600,000 in a deal worth £5million.

England boss Hodgson admitted during the week that he would like to see more of his players move abroad to further their footballing education.