Newcastle United told to enquire about shock move for former Liverpool star

Former Scotland international Don Hutchison reckons Newcastle United should ask about a potential move for Raheem Sterling.

The England international is facing an uncertain summer as he enters the final year of his contract at Premier League champions Manchester City.

It’s been widely reported that Pep Guardiola could cash in on the 27-year-old, with Chelsea interested in holding talks over a potential move.

Hutchinson, a Newcastle fan, believes the Magpies should “put the feelers out” to Sterling and gauge whether he’d be open to moving to St James’ Park.

That said, although United have ambitions to be the world’s best in years to come, Hutchinson conceded a move for Sterling could be too early in United’s exciting project.

The 51-year-old told the BBC’s Football Daily Podcast: “If you ask any Newcastle fan, I am one, if we ended up signing Raheem Sterling, that would be lift off for Newcastle fans.

“That would be ‘right, we’ve got one of the world’s best, we can build from there’.

“Maybe it’s just out of Newcastle’s reach. Maybe they’ve put the feelers out. That’s what happens as managers, if you’re Eddie Howe or an agent, you’d put the feeler out to Raheem Sterling.

“You’d say to them ‘do you fancy it?’ and he’s probably said, if they have put the feelers out ‘the timing’s not quite right’.”

Newcastle have made just one signing so far this summer with Matt Targett arriving on a permanent basis from Aston Villa.

Burnley and England goalkeeper Nick Pope could be the next player to join with talks at an advanced stage.