Let's hope this is the start of something more - much more - to come. Could this be the speculative, unsettling media story of the season - and next summer?
Real Madrid plot Raheem Sterling transfer from Liverpool as new contract fails to materialise
The teenage forward has become a key player for the Kop club and England but his £30,000-a-week deal makes him one of the lowest paid in both squads
Real Madrid are stepping up their efforts to sign Raheem Sterling next summer.
The Spanish giants' coach Carlo Ancelotti has put the Liverpool star on top of his hit-list after his stunning form for club and country.
Real have been alerted by the fact that the Reds have yet to tie down Sterling to a long-term contract, and are ready to move for him.
Liverpool appear to be dragging their feet on putting together a new deal for Sterling and that will give foreign clubs major encouragement.
The 19-year-old is currently on a £30,000-a-week package that expires in 2017, and the Kop club were expected to reward his progress with a new deal.
We revealed in April that he was in line for an improved contract after his impressive form for Liverpool, which helped force his way into England’s World Cup set-up.
He is currently one of the lower earners in the Liverpool set-up - and his deal is dwarfed by those of almost all of his England team-mates.
But the Reds' boss Brendan Rodgers last month insisted Sterling must wait for a new deal - and that has encouraged the men from the Bernabeu.
Rodgers said: “When you reward young players too quickly – Raheem’s still only 19 – you give them too much too early and that will be their downfall. It’s a big problem because they lose their hunger.”
Liverpool will be anxious not to lose one of their prize assets but the contract will be a concern with big clubs hovering.
Real have cash to spend after selling Angel Di Maria to Manchester United for a British record £59.7million, and have also seen Gareth Bale become a huge success as a Premier League export in Spain since signing him from Tottenham in summer 2013.
The Welshman has even encouraged Sterling to join him at the European champions.
Bale said last week: “If you look at Raheem Sterling, I think he’s shown what a good player he is. He’s starting to perform more consistently.
“If he keeps working hard and doing what he’s doing, then he’s going to keep progressing and the sky is his limit.”