Manchester City will sell Raheem Sterling next summer if he doesn’t sign a new contract, according to The Mirror.
The outlet suggests that The Citizens are desperate avoid any of their star players running down their contracts and leaving on free transfers, which means Sterling could be sold should he not agree new terms before next summer.
The 23-year-old’s contract at The Etihad, which the report claims to be worth around £170,000-a-week, expires in June 2020.
It is understood that the ex-Liverpool player’s representatives are demanding a significant pay rise to his current deal, but Pep Guardiola’s team are taking a tough stance, which has stalled negotiations.
OPINION
Even though Raheem Sterling had the best season of his career to date last season, scoring 23 goals in the campaign, Manchester City are right not to be giving the 23-year-old a bumper pay rise simply because he’s asking for one. Sterling needs to be careful in negotiations because, with the funds available to Pep Guardiola, the winger will simply be sold and another superstar will be brought in. Some of the best players in Europe have been linked with moves to The Etihad in recent years, so the Englishman is absolutely not irreplaceable, despite his impressive season last time out. If the ex-Liverpool player improves again this season including an increase in both goals and assists, then the club may soften their stance but as of this moment, if looks as if neither side are budging in contract talks. It could be an interesting development for any clubs interested this summer.