Raheem Sterling weighs up next move as Man City star eyes free transfer in 2023

England forward Sterling has just one year left on his Manchester City contract and with the Premier League champions not needing to cash in despite that status, he may allow his deal to run down before moving in 2023

Raheem Sterling is weighing up whether to run down his Manchester City contract so he can have his pick of clubs next summer.

Sterling will be 28 and at the peak of his powers when his current deal expires – and there will be no shortage of takers if a player valued at £60million by City becomes a free agent. Arsenal, Tottenham and Chelsea are all interested in taking the England winger back to London as he weighs up his options.

But Sterling harbours an ambition to play on the continent after winning four Premier League titles, the FA Cup and four League Cups in his seven years at the Etihad. And that would give him a wide choice of clubs both at home and abroad.

Talks about a new deal to stay at City have been ongoing for the last year, with no breakthrough imminent. More negotiations are set for this summer, but Sterling is looking for reassurances about his future role under Pep Guardiola as well as a hike on his current £300,000-a-week wages.

He was rotated regularly by Guardiola last season and still scored 18 goals. But Sterling started the Champions League semi-final second-leg at Real Madrid on the bench and only influenced the last-day title-clinching win over Aston Villa after coming on as a substitute with the Blues trailing by two goals.

City paid Liverpool £49million for Sterling after an acrimonious exit from Anfield But his decision has been fully justified despite the Merseysiders’ renaissance under Jurgen Klopp.

Etihad bosses would prefer to cash in this summer rather than lose a stellar player for nothing. But the final decision rests with Sterling – and with the World Cup on the horizon he may opt to stay put. He will be key to Gareth Southgate’s plans in Qatar.

City are open to selling Gabriel Jesus for the right price, with the Brazilian also entering the final 12 months of his contract. Arsenal are big admirers of the striker but feel City’s £50million valuation is excessive.

The Gunners are also monitoring Oleks Zinchenko, but the Ukrainian’s versatility has been invaluable to City and it would take a big offer to tempt them to sell even if the club’s chase for £40million-rated Brighton left-back Marc Cucurella is successful.

Riyad Mahrez and Ilkay Gundogan are two more players who will be out of contract next summer. Both players have played key roles in City’s success – Gundogan’s two goals against Villa clinched a fourth title in five seasons.

But they will both celebrate their 32nd birthdays next season and City would be tempted to cash in on one of them if the right offer came along.

City will also look to secure the long-term future of midfield lynchpin Rodri this summer. The Spanish international had an outstanding campaign after taking time to settle following his £60million arrival from Atletico Madrid.

City are looking to beef up their midfield options following the departure of long-serving Fernandinho. Leeds’ Kalvin Phillips has been targeted but it would take a huge bid to tempt the Yorkshire club into selling their star player.