UNHAPPY STERLING TELLS CITY: PLAY ME OR I’M OFF

RAHEEM STERLING wants to remain at Manchester City — but will consider his future at the Premier League champions if he continues to struggle for game time. No player has made more appearances under Pep Guardiola, yet the 26-year-old has started only one league match since the opening weekend of the season. Previously an ever-present, Sterling was largely named on the bench towards the business end of City’s run to their first Champions League final last season. The forward, who is three away from reaching a century of career league goals, told the Financial Times’ Business of Sport US Summit: ‘If I want my happiness at a certain level, I need to be playing football. ‘I need to be scoring goals and enjoying myself. If there was the option to go somewhere else for more game time, I would be open to it. ‘I’m not a person that’s going to complain, I’ve not tried to make it a bigger deal than it actually is. I get on with my work, do what I need to do.’ Sterling has 18 months remaining on his contract but has opted against opening discussions over an extension. The England international, who is no longer in City’s fiveman group of captains, added: ‘I’ve thought maybe one day I’d love to play abroad, to see how I would come up against that challenge.’ Sterling could start tomorrow’s clash with Burnley, with Ferran Torres facing at least a month out after fracturing a foot in Spain’s Nations League final defeat by France.