Chelsea could be one of the Premier League’s busiest clubs this summer with plenty of uncertainty throughout the first-team squad. Todd Boehly’s early days at the club are likely to be dominated by transfer planning with a number of high-profile names reportedly targeted already.
The departures of Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen have already been confirmed by Thomas Tuchel but they may not be the last to leave. Cesar Azpilicueta, Marcos Alonso, Christian Pulisic, Timo Werner and Hakim Ziyech have all been linked with moves away and it remains to be seen what the first-team squad will consist of when the transfer window closes.
One name who could come into replace some of the attacking talent, however, is Raheem Sterling. The Manchester City winger has been strongly linked with a move to west London in recent weeks, and with that in mind, football.london has taken a look at what’s being said about him on the rumour mill.
READ MORE: How Chelsea could potentially lineup as Raheem Sterling and Gabriel Jesus transfer decision made
True transfer value
Whether £60m is too steep for someone with little time left on his contract remains a topic for debate, but the selling club in this example have been vindicated for their reported price tag by the CIES Football Observatory. In their estimation, with all factors considered, they have priced a player who has scored 131 goals in 339 for City in all competitions since his switch from Liverpool back in 2015 anywhere between £43m-£60m.
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Growing ‘confidence’
According to The Athletic, there is growing ‘confidence’ that a deal can be completed in the near future, with both parties believing an agreement can be made. Sterling is set to enter the final year of his contract with City, but reports do vary on the potential cost to Chelsea, with estimates between £35million and £60million.
Sterling’s demands
As per The Sun, Sterling wants assurances that he will be a major part of Tuchel’s plans at Stamford Bridge. The City star saw his playing time reduced last campaign and he’d expect things to change should he make the move south.
Blues pursue deal but face competition
Chelsea are ramping up their interest in Sterling, according to the Telegraph. The England international has only one-year remaining on his contract at the Etihad, leaving uncertainty surrounding his future.
However, Chelsea are not the only side interested. Real Madrid, Barcelona and Bayern Munich are also said to be monitoring the situation.
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Guardiola admission
Pep Guardiola has already spoken about Sterling’s contract situation. Speaking after last season’s 4-0 win over Norwich, where the Englishman netted a hat-trick, he said: “I have known Raheem (Sterling) for six seasons. I know him perfectly well.
“During that period, there are highs and lows. It’s part of life. Teams are not honeymoons. There are problems, and we have to solve them.
“In the future? I don’t know what will happen. The club decides. When the club extends contracts, I give my opinion, but the club takes the decision, always.”
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Sterling’s hint
The Englishman has already admitted that he’d move on if he wasn’t being given the appropriate amount of game time at the Etihad.
Talking at the FT Business of Sport US Summit towards the end of 2021, Sterling said: “If there was the opportunity to go somewhere else for more game time, I would be open to it at this moment in time. As I said, football is the most important thing to me – challenges that I have set myself from a young age and dreams as well.”
Read more here.
Source by Football London
