Raheem Sterling has agreed personal terms with Chelsea and confirmation of his move from Manchester City is imminent.
The England international topped Thomas Tuchel’s shortlist of attacking targets and entered the final year of his contract with City, who are grateful for his service and will not hinder his desire for more minutes and status elsewhere.
Pep Guardiola has repeatedly stated that he “doesn’t like to keep players who are unhappy” and was prepared to let Sterling leave this summer, even to a Premier League rival, provided an acceptable offer in the region of £50 was presented million.
Tuchel was desperate to add a decisive edge in the final third to cure Chelsea’s goalscoring woes, and new Blues owner Todd Boilley contacted City to discuss numbers and the structure of the deal.
Image: Sterling scored 13 Premier League goals last season
Sterling would offer Tuchel a guaranteed threat – he has directly contributed to a combined 165 goals in the division in 320 appearances for Liverpool and City – as well as tactical flexibility and experience.
The 27-year-old believes he is in the decisive phase of his career and wants to make a significant contribution on and off the pitch.
The fact that City can offload two strikers from members of the Big Six – Gabriel Jesus to Arsenal for £45m and Sterling to Stamford Bridge – without worry is a sign of their solid recruitment and the gap that exists between the clubs.
Intra-league transfers at the top end of the table are expected to become more common as European teams struggle to compete financially with their English counterparts.
“Sterling is a polarizing target for Chelsea fans but would help freshen up the attack”
Liam Toomey of The Athletic on Sky Sports News:
“I think it’s a transfer that potentially works well for all parties. Sterling needs a change of scene; he has fallen out of favor at Manchester City, has 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 experiencing that at the moment when 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 freshen up their attacking options, especially after allowing Romelu Lukaku to 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 player, at 27, a key England international. He will obviously be a quality addition.
“I think Sterling is a bit of a polarizing target among Chelsea fans and I think part of that is just because he’s so well known. We know his flaws as a player as well as his strengths, having watched him forever in the Premier League and I think that affects the way a lot of Chelsea fans see him. But there’s no denying that he was a very effective player on top teams in this league for a long, long time, so I think he’ll be a very reliable performer.
“We also see an increased willingness from Chelsea to look for proven Premier League targets. They’ve been burned the last few years by signing players from other leagues who may have needed time to adapt or, in some cases, haven’t really adapted at all and haven’t been maximized on the team.
“Someone like Sterling who has already produced at a high level in the Premier League for many years, you can see why that would be attractive to Chelsea and for Boelli he is a big name. And at 27, he’s a guy you can still expect to be productive for a few more years.”
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