According to a recent report from The Daily Mirror, Manchester City will consider selling Raheem Sterling next summer if he doesn’t agree a new deal with the Premier League champions. The 23-year-old put contract negotiations on hold until after this summer’s World Cup in a bid to strengthen his position for improved terms, only for the forward to fail to really make a huge impact in Russia.

As such, Pep Guardiola’s men are reportedly ready to sell the £81 million-rated ace (as per Transfermarkt) next summer if no deal is agreed, thus leaving the England international facing the most important few months of his career.

The Breakdown

Ultimately, there is no doubting that Sterling was one of City’s most influential and important players last season in netting 23 goals and laying on 17 assists in all competitions for the Citizens, thus helping them to the Premier League title and indeed the Carabao Cup crown.

However, the 23-year-old was far from his impactful best for England in Russia this summer in failing to net at all for Gareth Southgate’s men, a below-par World Cup that looks set to cost him the improved contract he was seemingly hoping for from Guardiola’s side.

Thus, with his future now somewhat uncertain heading into the 2018/19 season, Sterling must now produce a level of performance over the coming months to convince City that he is indeed worth the pay-rise he seeks - it's up to him to produce his best form.

Produce the goods in the opening few weeks and months of the season, and thus underline his status as one of the most influential players in Guardiola’s squad, and an improved contract could well be in the offing.

Yet failure to do so, which could even see him lose his place in the starting eleven to new signing Riyad Mahrez, and Sterling will simply struggle to negotiate a much-improved deal, with City making it abundantly clear that they will indeed sell the 23-year-old if no contract is agreed.

Undoubtedly, Sterling was magnificent for Guardiola’s side last season and will surely seek to get better under the Spaniard’s guidance, but it is now up to him to prove that he is worth the pay-rise and improved deal he and his representatives are demanding - failure to do so could see his City career come to an end.

As such, it’s pretty evident that the former Liverpool man is facing the most important few months of his career when the season begins in August.

Man City fans… what do you think? Let us know!