STERLING’S WORLD CUP CONTRACT GAMBLE BACKFIRES

RAHEEM STERLING’S World Cup gamble has failed, strengthening Manchester City’s hand in talks over a new contract.

Sterling shelved negotiations before the World Cup in the hope his stock would rise on the back of a sparkling tournament.

His camp reckoned that would increase the pressure on City to accept his demands for improved personal terms to his current £170,000-a-week deal or attract interest from a big foreign club.

Neither has happened and the England forward had a decent

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