Raheem Sterling faces Manchester City exit next year after World Cup gamble on new £250,000-a-week deal fails
Attacker reportedly hoped his performances at the World Cup would help to push his bargaining power but his plan backfired
MANCHESTER CITY will reportedly sell Raheem Sterling next summer unless he agrees a new contract with the club after his World Cup gamble failed.
The 23-year-old forward’s representatives began negotiations with Etihad chiefs at the end of last season but they were postponed until he returned from Russia.
It was hoped by Sterling’s party his performances for England at the tournament would help give them leverage in trying to get their client among City’s top earners.
The former Liverpool star, who only has two years remaining on his City deal, wants his pay packet to be boosted from £170,000-a-week into the region of £250,000-a-week alongside the likes of Kevin De Bruyne and Sergio Aguero,
However, Sterling was influential without being outstanding in England’s run to the World Cup semi-finals – and that could reportedly sway City’s thinking.
Having seen the problems that developed at Arsenal when Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil were allowed to enter the final year of their deal, Pep Guardiola is adamant Sterling will not be able to do the same.
article states “the Spaniard is understood to be relaxed about the situation but will push for a resolution over the next few weeks”.
But if no agreement can be reached over the coming months, the state City will look to cash in on him in 12 months rather than risk losing him on a free.
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Sterling, who joined from Liverpool in 2015 for £49m, enjoyed a superb campaign for the club last season and scored 23 goals in their march to the Premier League title.
He has failed to reproduce that goalscoring form for his country, bagging just twice for the Three Lions in 44 caps, with his last strike coming in November 2015.
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Sterling is currently enjoying some much-deserved time off following his international exploits.
He posted images of him and his family on Instagram yesterday jetting off on their holidays.
The ace has headed to Ibiza to unwind after being given extra time off by Guardiola due to his World Cup exertions.