The England international headed a short list of Thomas Tuchel’s attacking targets and was entering the final year of his contract with City, who are grateful for his service and will not hinder his desire for more minutes and a place elsewhere. Pep Guardiola has repeatedly stated “I don’t like to keep players who are unhappy” and was open to allowing Sterling to leave this summer, even to a Premier League rival, provided an acceptable bid was submitted of 50 million pounds. Tuchel was desperate to add a decisive edge in the final third to cure Chelsea’s goalscoring woes and new Blues owner Todd Boehly had been in touch with City to discuss the elements and structure of a deal. Image: Sterling scored 13 goals in the Premier League last season Sterling would offer Tuchel a guaranteed threat – he has directly contributed 165 league goals in 320 appearances for Liverpool and City – as well as tactical flexibility and experience. The 27-year-old believes he is in the defining phase of his career and wants to make a significant contribution on and off the pitch. That City can offload two strikers to members of the ‘Big Six’ – Gabriel Jesus to Arsenal for £45m and Sterling to Stamford Bridge – without fear is a sign of their steady recruitment and the gap between clubs. Transfers within the league at the top of the table are set to become more frequent as European clubs struggle to compete financially with their English counterparts.
“Sterling is a polarizing target for Chelsea fans but would help renew the attack”
Athletic’s Liam Twomey on Sky Sports News: “I think it’s a transfer that potentially works well for all sides. Sterling needs a change of scene, he’s fallen out of favor at Manchester City, he’s got a year left on his contract and there doesn’t seem to be much of a market for him outside of Chelsea. “I think a lot of the big Premier League clubs are going through it at the moment where it’s easier for them to sell to each other, potentially, than to anyone else, given the finances involved. And Chelsea need a way to renew its attacking options, particularly after letting Romelu Lukaku return to Inter on loan. “I think the new owners also want to make a statement and while Raheem Sterling may not be the most exotic or exciting name to some Chelsea fans, he is a proven Premier League 27-year-old England international. He would clearly be a quality addition. “I think Sterling is a bit of a polarizing target among Chelsea fans and I think part of that is because he’s so familiar. We know his flaws as a player as well as his strengths as we’ve done watching him forever in the Premier League and I think that feeds into the way a lot of Chelsea fans see him. But there’s no doubt he’s been a very effective player in top teams in this league for a long, long time, so I think he’d be a very reliable performer. “We’re also seeing an increased willingness from Chelsea to look at proven Premier League targets. They’ve been burnt out over the last couple of years by signing players from other leagues who maybe needed time to adapt or, in some cases, haven’t really adapted at all. and was not maximized in the group. “Someone like Sterling who has already played at a high level in the Premier League for many years, you can see why he would be attractive to Chelsea and, for Bohli, he is a big name. And at 27, he is someone you could still wait. let’s be productive for several more years.”
Follow the summer transfer window with Sky Sports
Who will be on the move this summer before the transfer window closes at 11pm on September 1st? Keep up to date with all the latest transfer news and rumors on our exclusive Transfer Center blog on Sky Sports’ digital platforms. You can also catch up on the information and analysis on Sky Sports News.
