Manchester City ‘planning to offer Raheem Sterling a new long-term contract this summer’

Manchester City reportedly want to open contract talks with Raheem Sterling this summer with the club planning to offer the forward a new long-term deal.

Sterling, who joined City from Liverpool in 2015, has two years left on his current contract. Telegraph Sport claim the forward is keen to wait until the end of the season to begin discussions, with the club hopeful he will commit his future at the Etihad.

The England international has been a key player for Pep Guardiola over the last five seasons but has not been a regular starter in City’s big Champions League games.

Manchester City reportedly want to open contract talks with Raheem Sterling this summer

The forward had to make do with a place on the bench for the last five European matches.

He was an unused substitute for the first leg of the quarter-final with Borussia Dortmund and the semi-final against Paris Saint-Germain.

But he has still played an important role in City’s fifth Premier League title win, with 10 goals and seven assists so far. The 26-year-old has also captained the side on seven occasions this term.

However, he is 10 goals short of his tally of 20 last season. 

Sterling has had to make do with a place on the bench for recent Champions League games

The England international has 10 goals and seven assists in the Premier League this season

Speaking about Sterling’s form in April, Guardiola said: ‘Raheem is an extraordinary player. 

‘The reason he is not playing as regularly is that Riyad Mahrez and Phil Foden are in top form but the opportunities are going to come and he has to be ready.

‘It depends on them, not the manager. They have to show their confidence to me, I don’t have to show my confidence to them. They have it, otherwise they wouldn’t be here.

‘The quality with Raheem is there. It is not a case where he is more confident after talking with me.

‘They are top-class players and they have that confidence inside themselves. The manager has an idea how they want to play but after that they have to show the quality every time.’

Sterling is set to be named in Gareth Southgate’s England squad next week, which the Telegraph believe could delay contract talks with City.