Raheem Sterling 'considering leaving Manchester City on free transfer'

The England international is yet to agree to a new contract with the Premier League champions and is due to become a free agent at the end of next season as things stand.

Sterling was strongly linked with a loan move to Barcelona in the January transfer window, but the 27-year-old remained at the Etihad and enjoyed a relatively strong season under Pep Guardiola.

The former Liverpool man scored 17 goals and provided nine assists in 47 appearances for Man City in 2021-22, but he was not a consistent starter in the Premier League.

Sterling featured from the first whistle on 23 occasions in the English top flight last term - coming off the bench in a further seven and appearing as an unused substitute in seven more.

With negotiations over a new contract still failing to bear fruit, The Mirror claims that Sterling is considering the possibility of leaving Man City on a free in 2023.

The report states that Sterling is keen to weigh up offers from numerous clubs as a free agent, and he would welcome a chance to test himself abroad before he hangs up his boots.

Sterling is understood to pocket as much as £300,000 per week at the Etihad, although he is holding out for a pay rise to commit his long-term future to the Premier League champions.

Should Sterling opt against penning a new deal, City will supposedly try to recoup a fee for the Englishman this summer, and their valuation of the attacker currently stands at £60m.

Sterling has now appeared in 339 games for the Citizens in all tournaments, racking up 131 goals and 95 assists since joining in a £57.3m deal from Liverpool in 2015.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is said to be keen to reunite with Sterling at the Emirates, but a lack of Champions League football could hinder a move for the former Liverpool youngster.

Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur and Real Madrid have also been credited with an interest in Sterling, who has won four Premier League titles, one FA Cup and five EFL Cups during his time with Man City.

As well as Sterling, City could part ways with fellow attacker Gabriel Jesus, who will be pushed further down the pecking order following the arrivals of Erling Braut Haaland and Julian Alvarez.

Arsenal are said to be increasingly confident of winning the race for Jesus's signature, but City are still after a hefty figure of £40m despite his contract situation.

Riyad Mahrez is another attacker whose deal with Man City expires in 18 months' time, although the Algeria international played down talk of an exit from the Etihad last year.