Raheem Sterling is out of contract in 2023, is no closer to extending his deal and has interest from clubs in Europe, so it’s possible the 27-year-old leaves this summer. Manchester City won’t want to lose a valuable asset for free transfer next year, so they may have to cash in early if he won’t commit his future to City.
Alex McLeish believes Pep Guardiola might already have planned for Sterling’s departure this summer. He says City could have a replacement lined up if the England international ends his seven-year stay at the Etihad Stadium, telling Football Insider: “It depends on what Pep is going to bring to the table to replace him or what he’s already got at the club to replace him?”
Sterling joined the Sky Blues from Liverpool in 2015 and has made 339 appearances in all competitions, scoring 131 goals with 95 assists. The 27-year-old scored 17 goals with nine assists from 47 games across the board this season but amassed just 121 minutes of football from City’s Champions League quarter-final and semi-final clashes.
Sterling was unhappy at missing out on big games last season, eventually requesting a transfer over the summer, so he won’t be pleased with how this campaign has panned out. McLeish added: “Everything comes to an end sometimes. Maybe doesn’t feel as loved as he has over the few years. (He’s been) in and out of the team over the past season.”
There is growing interest in Sterling and City haven’t made progress in tying him down a new deal, so how will this saga end?
In other news, Danny Mills says Oleksandr Zinchenko has tough decision to make this summer