- Nabeel
Reports: Manchester City confident of Raheem Sterling extending deal
Reports this morning have stated there is confidence at Manchester City that a contract offer for England's man of the moment and a key member of Pep Guardiola's squad will be enough to keep the forward due to the current situation of the market.
In May, Mike McGrath of The Telegraph wrote that City want contract talks with Sterling this summer and are set to offer him a long-term deal, despite his loss of form at club level.
Last month, Stuart Brennan of the Manchester Evening News stated that the England man will discuss a new deal and fully expects to be a City player next season - adding that Sterling is set to announce a new community initiative in Manchester to mirror the work he has done with children in the deprived London borough of Brent, where he grew up. Brennan claims that sources close to the player say that the noise about a move away from the club is empty.
Last week, Jack Gaughan of Mail Sport reported that City will look to discuss a new contract with the winger after the Euros and were calm about the situation despite the 26-year-old only having two years left to run on his existing deal.
Today, in a piece detailing Raheem Sterling's situation at the club, Sam Lee of The Athletic reports that City are confident a new deal offered to the player would be enough to keep him at the club because the transfer window is hardly booming.
Sam Lee details that City would sell the player if they had to but will also offer him a new deal. City having to sell him would be a result of Sterling making clear that he would like to leave and presenting a good offer from a club, and/or making clear that he will be running down the remaining two years of his deal - moving for free in the summer of 2023 - meaning City would have to secure some value from the player, particularly one of that quality. Had Sterling had three or more years left on his deal, it's unlikely City would even be considering a sale - but the threat of an extremely valuable asset running into the final year of a deal will ensure City look for an end to speculation this summer.
Sam Lee reports that Sterling is one of several players at the club that would consider their futures if a good offer were to come in - adding that if he were to really push and present a suitable offer, City would allow it to happen - with the same being the case for Bernardo Silva, who reportedly asked the club about leaving last summer. However, in the case of the senior England international, it's suggested with a lack of agent - after parting ways with his long-time agent Aidy Ward earlier this year - that sorting a transfer with the sole help of lawyers could be difficult.
The Athletic's City correspondent writes that Guardiola wants both players to stay, believing that they could put their personal feelings aside, continuing to play at a high level - without poisoning the atmosphere in the locker room. However, we all know the Catalan won't stand in the way of players who desperately want to leave - as we saw in the case of Leroy Sane.
With contract talks looking as being scheduled for after the conclusion of the European Championships, Sterling extending his deal at the club will depend on whether he is willing to look over whatever is causing him his current grievances - seemingly a lack of playing time. We'd say there's a pretty good chance 'Raz' gets his place back in Guardiola's best 11, especially if his form for Gareth Southgate and England continues into the new campaign.
You may just take the position that noise regarding a move for Sterling is empty like sources close to the player have reportedly told Brennan and the Manchester Evening News.
For whatever may come from these discussions, City will want a conclusion this summer.
ELSEWHERE
Adrian Bernabe is set to join Enzo Maresca at Serie B side Parma following the expiration of his Manchester City contract, according to Fabrizio Romano. Maresca managed the 20-year-old at the Under-23s last season.
Written by: @NA1907_
Follow our Twitter account for reliable, live updates on all the latest news surrounding this story and everything Manchester City in real time.