Oleksandr Zinchenko has hailed the ‘exceptional’ Raheem Sterling, via TuttoMercatoWEB, amid reports linking the Manchester City forward with Tottenham Hotspur.
Zinchenko will square up against his Citizens teammate at Euro 2020 on Saturday after Ukraine eliminated Sweden on Tuesday night. Andriy Shevchenko’s side struck a 121st-minute winner at Hampden Park, to follow the Three Lions win at home to Germany.
Sterling had opened the scoring at Wembley for his third goal of the tournament to fire Gareth Southgate’s men through. The 65-cap international had also scored twice in the group stage, after recording 14 goals and 12 assists domestically last season.
Sterling’s Euro 2020 performances could catch the attention of key figures at Tottenham amid doubt in his Manchester City future. The Mirror claim the 26-year-old may no longer extend his contract as he was disappointed to be offered in part-exchange for Karry Kane.
Manchester City had offered Tottenham the chance to sign Sterling in a player-plus-cash deal for Kane this summer. But the decision angered the forward, who is now reassessing his options with two years left on a £300,000-per-week contract.
More immediately, though, Sterling must face his Citizens teammate at Euro 2020 and Zinchenko knows he faces a real challenge.
“Sterling is one of the strongest wingers in the world and right now, he is in extraordinary shape,” Zinchenko said. “He is exceptional, and he really makes a difference. We will have to be careful and try to find a way to stop him.”
Zinchenko tells Tottenham what Sterling can offer
Zinchenko’s vivid praise for his Manchester City teammate only tells Tottenham what they could pass on by not signing Sterling. But the forward’s performances at Euro 2020 alone are doing just that, having shone as Southgate’s leading attacking light.
Sterling has grown with confidence with every appearance at the tournament and constantly caused Germany problems on Tuesday. He was by far the Three Lions’ most decisive player when he got his head up or ran with the ball.
And it was Sterling who provided a touch of creativity when Southgate needed it the most. Now, with his Manchester City future in question and Tottenham offered his services, the north London side could become interested.
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