"Could that be the reason..." Lineker suggests Sterling may be burned out

At a relatively young age, Raheem Sterling was a key figure for both Liverpool and Manchester City. However, his move to Chelsea and a subsequent loan spell at Arsenal have not gone as planned. Former England striker Gary Lineker has his own theory about why.

Details: Lineker believes that Sterling’s current struggles could stem from his early success. Having played so much top-level football at a young age, the winger may have simply lost his hunger for the game.

Quote: “I love Raheem, always have. He’s been a brilliant player for so long. You know what I love about him? He always gives everything. He’s never afraid.

I admire him for that. It’s one of the reasons he’s had the career he has. I know the last couple of years haven’t gone the way he would have wanted, but I wonder—could that be because he played so much football at such a young age?” Lineker said on The Rest Is Football podcast.

Reminder: Previous reports suggested that Sterling has struggled with confidence following his difficult spell at Chelsea.