Rio Ferdinand thinks Raheem Sterling could well leave Manchester City next summer if he continues to struggle at the Etihad Stadium.
The 26-year-old, who is valued at a whopping £81million on football database Transfermarkt, has less than two years remaining on his contract with the Premier League champions and is in talks over a possible renewal.
However, according to the Daily Star, negotiations over a new deal are moving slowly with Sterling demanding wages of around £350,000-a-week, and Mikel Arteta has supposedly made the England international one of his prime targets next summer.
Now, Ferdinand has assessed Sterling's future in Manchester and thinks the former Liverpool winger could make a move next summer, but thinks Arsenal and Tottenham will not be in the mix for his signature.
“I’ll say it now. If it continues like this for Raheem, Raheem won’t be there next season I don’t think,” he told his YouTube channel. “Because he can’t sit and afford to wait around. I don’t think he’s that type of guy. He’s a winner.
“Tottenham can’t get in the mix. Arsenal can’t get in the mix for a Sterling right now.”
So far this season, Pep Guardiola has started Sterling just twice in the Premier League and the City boss told his winger that he needs to rediscover his best form in order to get back in his team on a regular basis.
“Do you know how many incredible successes we had in the last seasons yeah? Impossible without Raheem. He’s such an important player," Guardiola said last month.
"But I am here to tell them. He reached an incredible high standard and I have to tell him this is the standard we need, for you, for all of us.
"And I’m pretty sure he will get it. If he’s able to do it, he will do it. And I’m so optimistic that he will do a great season.”
