Raheem Sterling wants parity with Aguero and De Bruyne as Man City contract stalemate continues – report – City Watch

Raheem Sterling is ready to commit his long-term future to Manchester City – but only if he is handed a new deal that will put him on the same level as Sergio Aguero and Kevin De Bruyne.

City have still to reach an agreement with 23-year-old Sterling after talks failed prior to the World Cup, and according to Simon Mullock of the Sunday Mirror, despite a less than outstanding tournament Raheem still wants parity with the club’s top earners.

Guardiola has told Sterling that he wants him to stay at the Etihad and the next round of talks between his agent, Aidy Ward, and City’s director of football, Txiki Begiristain, will be important in determining the player’s future.

City are conscious of the fact that Raheem’s value will drop in a year’s time when he enters the final 12 months of his contract, and hope they can reach an understanding with him and his representatives before they reach that stage.

A failure to reach an agreement could see Sterling sold next summer, with the player having said in the past that he’d be keen on an experience in Spain.

The former Liverpool star was crucial in City’s successful 2017-18 season, scoring an impressive 23 goals in 46 appearances from the wing.

Guardiola said of Raheem: “There is no doubt we want Sterling. He knows that and his agent knows that. We made it clear from the day I arrived.

“But deals are deals, agents are agents and players are players, so I don’t know what is going to happen.

“But I assure you that the club, myself, the sporting director and all his team-mates want him to stay longer.”

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