A gamble taken by Manchester City and England star Raheem Sterling has reportedly gone wrong, with the Premier League champions now holding all the cards in upcoming contract talks.
It's understood that Sterling postponed negotiations between himself and the club until after the World Cup, in the hopes that some eye catching performances from the attacker would increase the pressure on City to meet his wage demands, according to David Anderson (via The Mirror).
However, whilst Sterling may have been an important part of England's run to the semi-finals, multiple missed chances and a generally frustrating tournament for the winger means City will be back in the driving seat during negotiations.