Manchester City plan contract talks with indispensible star

Manchester City are expected to sit down with Raheem Sterling’s representatives next month and thrash out a bumper new deal for the forward, reports The Guardian.

Sterling’s current deal isn’t due to expire until 2020 but Pep Guardiola’s side want to reward the 23-year-old with a new contract that reflects his growing importance to the team.

The City No.7’s basic wage is currently £170,000-a-week but the England international will become one of the club’s best-paid players once a new contract is agreed.

Sterling has been one of the outstanding performers of the current Premier League campaign and has played an integral part in City’s runaway success in the league.

Guardiola has elevated Sterling’s game to unimaginable heights in such a short space of time and the former Liverpool forward can now expect to pocket in excess of £250,000-a-week once a new deal is agreed.

Sterling is currently enjoying his most prolific campaign to date after netting 14 times in 20 league appearances for the Citizens, having previously never hit double figures in a single-campaign.

In fact, only Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah (21) and Harry Kane (19) has scored or assisted more Premier League goals than Sterling (18) this season.