Simon Stone
BBC Sport
Raheem Sterling is prepared to put his contract talks with Manchester City on hold until after the World Cup.
It had been expected City would speak to Sterling about extending his current deal, which runs to 2020, at the end of the season.
However, after his best-ever campaign, in which he has so far scored 23 goals, Sterling is prepared to wait.
The 23-year-old was touted as a makeweight in a deal to sign Alexis Sanchez from Arsenal last summer. City failed in that move but Sterling's value has now risen.
The expectation remains he will stay with the Blues but a good World Cup in Russia would put him in the shop window for Europe's leading clubs.