With Romelu Lukaku set to leave on-loan to Inter Milan, Chelsea are reportedly keen to sign Raheem Sterling from Manchester City to replace the Belgium striker.
The England forward has a year left to run on his contract at City, with whom he won a fourth Premier League title last season. However, over the past two seasons, Sterling has seen his game time diminish at the Etihad and this has contributed to talk of Sterling leaving the Etihad Stadium for a while now; with the signing of Haaland and Julian Alvarez could that come move happen now?
According to Sky Sports, Chelsea head coach Thomas Tuchel wants the 27-year-old to lead the line for the Blues next season – with £97.5-million man Romelu Lukaku potentially rejoining Inter Milan on loan after his disastrous return to Stamford Bridge.
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The report adds that it would take a fee in the region of £60m to secure Sterling’s services.
And Sterling could well be tempted by a move to West London – where he started out as a youngster with QPR.
He has not been a guaranteed starter under Pep Guardiola – and competition for places in the City attack isn’t going to be any less stiff next season, following the arrival of a certain Erling Haaland.
That said, Sterling – who Guardiola has previously described as a “key player” – continued to prove his importance in 2022-23, scoring 13 league goals at an average of 0.55 per 90 (by comparison, Lukaku netted eight times at a rate of 0.45/90).
