Raheem Sterling “deserves everything he gets” at Manchester City - Jamie Carragher

There have been reactions from different quarters following reports that Raheem Sterling has verbally agreed to a new contract extension with Manchester City. The contract is expected the fetch the player a whopping £300,000 in weekly wages.

That will make him one of the best paid players in the league, a fact which has raised many eyebrows. Opinion has been divided even among City supporters concerning Sterling’s demands as talks about his contract extension has dragged on for months. While some feel he is worthy of such numbers, others think he is requesting for too much.

The winger has been on a mission to silence his doubters with superb performances on the pitch this season. He opened his account for the campaign in grand style scoring in the club’s first league game of the season against Arsenal.

So far, he has been one of City’s best players this season and leads the stats having contributed to 11 goals in just nine league outings. He has scored six and set up another five. Recall that the winger was excellent for the club last season as part of City’s record-breaking Premier League title-winning side, scoring 18 goals and adding 11 assists in the league. Only Sergio Aguero scored more for the club.

It was the England international’s best performance in his young career. But he appears set to do much better this term, confirming Pep Guardiola’s words that he can do even better.

Four Man of the Match awards in the nine league games played suggest he is filling the gap left by Kevin De Bruyne as City’s starman while the Belgian recovers from injury.

Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher has been one of those that have taken notice. The Reds former defender weighed in on the matter stating that the 23-year-old deserves whatever rewards he gets at City.

”We are hearing reports that Sterling is on the verge of signing a big contract and maybe there are eyebrows raised because of the figures involved, but when you look at the stats, he is in the company of players who are earning those figures and people are saying are the best players in the league.

”This young English lad is thriving under maybe the best manager in the world and in the best team in the league. He deserves everything he gets,” Carragher stated on Sky Sports.

The former England defender also wants Sterling’s form to carry over to the Three Lions.

”On the back of the Spain game against England, hopefully we will see a bit more of that because he does need to up his stats in terms of goals and assists for the national team.

”What he is doing for Manchester City now… we always talk about Sergio Aguero, David Silva and Kevin De Bruyne, but he is now in that company,” he concluded.

It is difficult to disagree with Carragher as Sterling has been in inspired form for both club and country and looks set to help the Sky Blues achieve their ambitions moving forward. At 23, it is clear he is just getting started.