Raheem Sterling
Raheem Sterling is one of the lower earners at Liverpool. Reuters

Real Madrid are reportedly planning a sensational summer move for Liverpool prodigy Raheem Sterling – while recent reports in Spain claimed the Champions League winners are also tracking Anfield academy star Pedro Chirivella.

Having sold Angel Di Maria to Manchester United for around £60m this summer, Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has fresh cash to spend and is looking for a versatile and pacy midfielder like Sterling to bolster his squad.

The Spanish giants were already linked with the Liverpool prodigy during the summer but opted instead to sign World Cup sensation James Rodriguez from Monaco for £63m.

Nevertheless, the Mirror reports Los Blancos have not given up on Sterling and are now ready to take advantage of his special contract situation at Anfield to redouble their efforts to sign him at the end of the season.

Even though the 19-year-old is proving to be a crucial asset for Brendan Rodgers, the English international is still one of the lower earners in the squad (around £30,000-a-week) and the Reds are yet to commit him to a long-term contract – with the current one set to expire in 2017.

Furthermore, Rodgers recently suggested Sterling will eventually have to wait for an improvement: "When you reward young players too quickly you give them too much too early and that will be their downfall. It's a big problem because they lose their hunger."

Meanwhile, Marca recently reported the Spanish giants are also closely monitoring Anfield academy prodigy Chirivella, being dubbed the new Xabi Alonso.

The Spaniard arrived on Merseyside from Valencia in 2013 and even though he is only 17, he has already been included in a number of first team training sessions as Rodgers has big faith in his future.

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez is known for getting what he wants (as was demonstrated by the signings of Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Luka Modric). Should the reports about his intention to buy the Anfield duo prove true it would be a major blow for Liverpool, as Sterling and Chirivella are expected to be crucial players in both the present and the long-term future of the Merseyside club.