Manchester City are refusing to blink over Raheem Sterling’s contract demands – increasing fears the England winger will leave next summer.
Sunday Mirror Sport revealed in August that the Blues were unwilling to give Sterling £300,000-a-week, the same as top earners like Kevin De Bruyne and Sergio Aguero.
But the 23-year-old has less than two years remaining on his deal and City are aware that his £100million value will tumble if they fail to convince him to sign a new agreement.
Sterling currently earns £175,000-a-week and City have offered to increase that to £200,000 with a package of lucrative success-related bonuses and yearly increases.
So far they have been unable to broker an agreement – and the clock is now ticking.
City’s stance has not been altered by reports Sterling is wanted by Real Madrid and Barcelona, believing that the Spanish giants have other priorities.
But they are aware the winger will become a wanted man if he is available at a bargain price due to the contract stand-off.
Sterling has long harboured ambitions about playing abroad, with La Liga his preferred destination.
Last December, when he agreed to conduct an interview with Sky Sports, he spoke about his desire to experience life in Spain – and City asked for his words to be cut from the final edit.
The attacker has developed into one of Pep Guardiola’s most consistent and lethal attackers since arriving from Liverpool in the summer of 2015 and feels he deserves a deal that reflects his standing at the club.
His advisers are also aware that City would have to spend a fortune in the transfer market to replace a player who scored 23 goals last season, many of them crucial.
However, both De Bruyne and Aguero are now in the peak seasons of their career.
And City fear that handing Sterling similar terms would cause them problems when they are negotiating contracts and transfers with other players.
Galalook
249
Sterling is one of City's best players and has been for over a year now. He has some kind of hand in nearly every City goal and plays every match, one of the first on Peps Team sheet (along with Ederson, KDB, Aguero & Fernandinho) Anybody who isnt a hater sees what he does for the team, never stops running, never injured, gives 110% every game. Im not surprised RM are sniffing round. I hope City put him on more money as I would hate to lose him.
Abrahames
221
There's nowhere for him to go, surely. Won't go back to Liverpool, doubt they'd have him. We're obviously a no-go. Chelsea don't need another attacking midfielder/winger Arsenal or Spurs would be a downgrade and won't pay that either. Abroad...Barca dont need him. Think Madrid will target someone better, Bayern won't pay it, Juventus don't need him. He doesn't have many options.
Proshkin
178
Sterling is being wasted at Man City. The signing of Mahrez undermines his position in the starting line up. The best solution in the interest of his own development and being successful is to leave Man City and join Arsenal. With Emery Arsenal are destined for success for many years to come whilst Pep is plotting a return to Barcelona. If Sterling is wise he should leave Man City ASAP before they ruin his career
blackjust
159
Sterling is not replaceable if you say mbappe you have no business sense. Sterling talks are stalling for a 275 k a week approximate pay increase. If city wouldn’t pay that to sterling what makes you think they’d pay 200 plus for mbappe when 65 is their record signing
iruan_evo9
134
Each time whenever Liverpool meets City at Anfield.Sterling will be jeered badly by Liverpool fans.That shows the Liverpool fans really hates Sterling so much for the past few years.I'm as a City fans it shows Sterling really improved alot by the haters.Coz it motivates him to play better and now he's value is rising.Thanks Liverpool fans!👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
dramar
83
Never been a big fan of Sterling but he does put in a good shift when he does play, not the most gifted of players and sometimes his 1st or 2nd lets him down a bit. His pace gets him in positions that others might not get to so he can be a threat against anyone, Pep has brought the best out of him. But if he wants to go, let him go and cash in whilst he is still young.