Raheem Sterling’s proposed £49 million switch to Manchester City could spark a domino effect involving transfers for Citizens duo Edin Dzeko and Stevan Jovetic and Napoli striker Gonzalo Higuain, according to Italian media.

The trio have been linked with moves to Roma, Inter and Liverpool respectively. Roma sporting director Walter Sabatini jetted into Manchester on Sunday evening to thrash out a €15m (£10.7m) transfer for Dzeko, although City are believed to be holding out for €20m (£14.3m).

Jovetic could be handed an escape route back to Serie A by Inter Milan – with City keen to unload players ahead of the big-money arrival of Sterling.

The Montenegrin striker has struggled to make an impact at City since a £22m move from Fiorentina and managed just five Premier League goals last season.

However, La Gazzetta dello Sport and Tuttosport reported that Inter are holding out for Chelsea winger Mohamed Salah, who is believed to be the Nerazzurri’s top target ahead of Jovetic. Any delay could see Roma's Sabatini ask for Jovetic as well as Dzeko during his Manchester visit.

Meanwhile, Liverpool will soon have a huge influx of cash from the Sterling sale, meaning they can dive in for Napoli hitman Higuain. The door is more than open for an offer, as President Aurelio De Laurentiis was caught on camera telling fans “I wish” Higuain would leave. “With €90m I can buy eight players!”

While the proposal won’t reach that height for Pipita, Napoli and Liverpool could do a deal for the Argentine. His confidence was battered over the summer by the Copa America, where he missed a decisive penalty in the shoot-out final against Chile.

-