Poll reaction: Rafa urged to make Sterling first Madrid signing
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Rafa Benitez’s first action as manager of Real Madrid should be to raid old club Liverpool for Raheem Sterling.
That is according to the latest Ladbrokes News poll, which showed that the England forward is the top choice among our readers.
With Benitez now officially unveiled as Carlo Ancelotti’s replacement we asked you who the former Napoli, Chelsea and Liverpool gaffer should sign first and with 33 per cent of the votes Sterling was the clear winner.
Rafa is well aware of the youngster’s talent having signed off on Sterling’s move from QPR to Anfield back in 2010 and at 5/2 to join Real this summer it seems our voters may just get their wish.
Blues fans were disgruntled earlier this week when reports surfaced that the Spain international was fed up with life in London, perhaps prompting 22 per cent of our readers to envision a move to Madrid.
However, the striker has since distanced himself from the reports and insists he is happy at Stamford Bridge.
Rafa could instead them be tempted to bid for the two players that shared number three in our poll. Manchester United’s Angel Di Maria and outgoing Chelsea stopper Petr Cech who both earned 19 per cent of the vote.
Di Maria, 8/1 to join Madrid, started brightly at Old Trafford but fizzled out later in the campaign and is now being linked with either a return to Madrid or a switch to Ligue 1 with PSG.
Cech, 10/1 to sign for Rafa this summer, is on the lookout for a new club but much will depend on the conclusion to the David de Gea saga.
Should Madrid get their man then Cech is more likely to head to Old Trafford and with the Manchester United switch priced at evens that certainly looks to be on the cards.
Completing our poll was another Manchester United flop in the shape of Radamel Falcao with a meagre seven per cent.
Despite a lacklustre campaign with the Red Devils the Colombian is still attracting some big clubs, with Chelsea rumoured to be keen.
But if our poll is anything to go by Rafa is best off sticking with the talents already at his disposal and giving Falcao a wide berth.
