Why City should simply splash the cash to seal Sterling’s future
Sky Sports claims that Manchester City have opened talks with star forward Raheem Sterling on a possible new long-term contract.
City’s Chief Operating Officer Omar Berrada and Director of Football Txiki Begiristain had held ‘positive’ initial discussions with the English man’s representatives on Monday, claimed Sky Sports.
Sterling had signed a new contract in November last year. The contract, which runs until 2023, was worth £275,000-per-week.
However, Sky Sports suggests that City’s new deal would increase his wages to more than £350,000-per-week.
However, with growing interest from Real Madrid, City seem keen to keep hold of their talismanic striker.
Since making his move from Liverpool in the summer of 2015, Sterling has grown into City’s main man for all occasions.
The 24-year old has been stellar under current boss Pep Guardiola, as it is evident from the two Premier League titles, one FA Cup, and two Carabao Cups which they have won together.
Last year proved to be the best for Guardiola and Sterling, as City claimed the domestic treble, thereby elevating the club’s status to greater heights.
Sterling has played a pivotal role in helping Guardiola build the Manchester club into one of the most dominant sides in English and European football.
This season, Sterling has contributed with 14 goals and 5 assists from 18 appearances across all competitions.
The pacey forward is City’s second-highest goalscorer in the Premier League this season, with 7 to his name. Star striker Sergio Aguero, meanwhile, leads the chart with 9 goals.
To add to his list of achievements, Sterling currently leads City’s challenge in the list of Champions League top-scorers, with 5 goals under his belt.
He is also fourth overall in the European competition, behind Robert Lewandowski (10), Erling Haaland (7) and Harry Kane (6).
The diminutive winger now has a whopping 83 goals and 73 assists to his credit in over 200 appearances for Cityzens.
Sterling, meanwhile, has not just limited his excellent displays to club football alone.
The diminutive speedster has been remarkable for club and country alike. He has 12 goals and 21 assists from 56 appearances for the English national side.
Of the 12, 10 of them have been scored after October 2018, and he made his international debut in 2012. This is a clear reflection of the fact that Sterling’s finishing abilities grew significantly under Guardiola, under whom he has been playing since 2016.
Sterling and Guardiola hence, seem to be a match made in heaven, and the winger has been repaying his managers’ faith in him, with consistent displays in the past three seasons.
Also, it would be safer for the club to keep hold of the in-form Sterling rather than letting him go for a hefty fee, especially since he is the one that is racking up the maximum number of goals for them.
Verdict
City splashing out some cash to secure the future of the two-time Premier League winner seems to be a move in the right direction.
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Moreover, Sterling is just 24 and has many more years left in him. His performances over the past few years speak volumes about the player’s ambitions.
Hence, it would be safer for an ambitious side like City to seal a new deal for Englishman if they wish to remain on top forever.