Raheem Sterling is nearing a move away from Manchester City this summer with Chelsea in talks over a deal. The 27-year-old is out of contract in 2023 and isn’t close to putting pen to paper on an extension, so Paul Robinson says City have no choice but to cash in rather than lose him for nothing next year.
Sterling was in talks with City over a new deal before parting company with his agent Aidy Ward. Since then, little progress has been made and reports suggest he’s keen to leave. Like last summer, the England international isn’t happy with Pep Guardiola’s squad rotation, so Robinson said City should let him go.
He told Football Insider: “If he has told City that he won’t sign a new contract it is time to cash in. Yes, Man City don’t need the money but you don’t want a player in your dressing room who doesn’t want to be there. It is in the best interest of the club and the player that he moves on.
“There has to be an agreement reached. They need to find a solution. They should put a price on his head and let him go. Of course, they won’t want to sell him to a title rival but that’s better than having an unhappy player on the sidelines on huge wages. It makes no sense keeping him.”
City paid £49m to sign Sterling in 2015 and risk losing him for nothing in 2023, so their best hope of making back some money is by cashing in now. Robinson says the Sky Blues must not make the same mistake Manchester United made with Paul Pogba and Chelsea with Romelu Lukaku.
United signed Pogba from Le Havre in 2009, released the 29-year-old in 2012, re-signed him from Juventus in 2016 for £89m and released the French international in 2022. Chelsea signed Lukaku from Anderlecht for £13.5m in 2011, sold him to Everton for £32m in 2014, re-signed him from Inter Milan in 2021 for £97.5m and want the 29-year-old gone this summer.
Robinson added: “I don’t like players going into the last 12 months of their contract. Look at what Paul Pogba has cost Manchester United. Look at how much Romelu Lukaku cost Chelsea. Both clubs have lost tens of millions on those two players. It is laughable. City cannot risk that with Sterling.”