Raheem Sterling could quit Man City after ‘massive’ contract update – pundit
Raheem Sterling could depart Man City this summer in order for a final “massive new contract” at Real Madrid or Paris Saint-Germain, according to Noel Whelan.
The former Leeds striker, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, claimed the 27-year-old would be “nearly impossible” to replace for Pep Guardiola’s side.
Sterling’s current deal at the Etihad expires in June 2023.
According to The Times (18 February), Man City have scheduled contract talks with the England winger for the end of this season.
However, the report claims Guardiola and the club could yet choose to “cash in” on Sterling, with a fee well above £50million mooted.
Whelan suggested the former Liverpool star may want to “test himself” at one of the biggest clubs on the continent.
“It’d be a real shame if he were to leave City and go abroad,” he told Football Insider‘s Ewan Kingsbury.
“We want to see the best players in the Premier League, and Sterling has proven just how important he is in the last few games with Grealish out.
“He provides assists, goals – and at the minute, he’s their top player. If they can tie him down then it will save them a lot more money in the long run.
“Trying to get a replacement for someone like Raheem Sterling will be nearly impossible, even if City have got all the money in the world.
“It would be really sad to see him leave the Premier League this summer. We want to be watching the best English players in the best and hardest league.
“But he’s won pretty much everything with City. He may feel that it’s time to test himself at a club like Real Madrid or PSG.
“It’s that part of his career where it might be his last chance at a massive new contract elsewhere.”
In other news, ex-Fifa official swipes at ‘lazy refereeing’ as two new Man City controversies analysed.