Manchester City have held initial discussions over a potential new contract for in-form attacker Raheem Sterling.

The PA news agency understands there has been contact between the Premier League champions and representatives of the England forward.

The club are understood to be relaxed about the situation, with 24-year-old Sterling having only signed his current deal, which runs until 2023, a year ago.

Sterling, who joined City from Liverpool in 2015, is now rated as one the world’s best players due to his outstanding form in recent seasons.

He has begun the current campaign in outstanding fashion and had netted 18 times in 23 appearances for club and country prior to City’s Champions League clash with Shakhtar Donetsk on Tuesday.