In a recent report, the Daily Star has offered an update on Manchester City winger Raheem Sterling’s future. It is believed that both Man City and the England international have decided to put contract talks on hold until the summer after the player decided to change his agent (via The Daily Star).
Sterling’s Influential Role In Man City’s Brilliant Season So Far
Sterling has experienced a dip in form but has still managed to put in several productive displays for the Mancunian giants this season. He has banged in 13 goals and provided ten assists in 38 matches for the Premier League leaders this term across multiple competitions.
The 26-year-old deserves a lot of credit for averaging 2.1 shots, 1.3 key passes and 2.3 dribbles per 90 minutes in the English top-flight. Sterling has hardly given away the ball when distributing it in the final third based on his pass completion rate of 86.1% in league football (stats via whoscored).
The former Liverpool speedster’s current contract at the Etihad Stadium is set to expire in the summer of 2023, so there is still plenty of time for both parties to agree on a new deal. Hence, it is no surprise that they have decided to postpone contract talks until the summer as both the player and the club are better off concentrating on matters on the field.
What Does The Three Lions Star Bring To The Table?
Sterling possesses excellent pace and agility that help him breeze past his marker out on the wide areas. He can time his runs well in behind the opposition backline and is a joy to watch when he is dribbling at full swing. The 60-time England international has also chipped in by scoring and setting up his fair share of goals for Pep Guardiola’s side this season. When fit and firing on all cylinders, Sterling is definitely one of the first names in the Man City teamsheet because of his remarkable consistency in Premier League football.
Why Man City Need To Keep Hold Of Sterling For The Long-Run
At 26, the English wing wizard is about to enter his prime, so Man City cannot afford to lose him when he will play some of his best football in the coming seasons. Guardiola should rather try everything he can to come to an agreement with Sterling over a new, long-term contract at the end of this campaign.
With Sergio Aguero’s time at the Etihad Stadium coming to an end soon, Guardiola cannot allow any of his other stars to leave if he wants to sustain Man City’s stranglehold in domestic football. It would be wise to keep Sterling for the long-run as he could guide the Mancunian outfit to even more success in the years to come.
