The England winger left the Merseysiders in a highly controversial £50million deal in the summer of 2015 in a bid to win the Champions League. Sterling has proved a great success at the Etihad, scoring 131 goals in 339 games for the club. He has also won everything there is to win, with the exception of the coveted Champions League crown. However, with just one year remaining on his deal, speculation is rife that Sterling could be on the move this summer. He is being watched by many clubs, although Chelsea are leading the chase. To that end, reports earlier this week lifted the lid on the staggering salary he will earn at Stamford Bridge. And that move is now on the verge of being completed with reports revealing they have reached an agreement over his transfer fee with Manchester City. With a medical booked, Chelsea hope to include Sterling on their plane to the US next week. Chelsea’s first friendly will take place in Nevada against Club America on July 16. Indeed, the Blues appear to have beaten off strong competition to sign the 27-year-old. He has also reportedly been targeted by Real Madrid, PSG and Bayern Munich, who have been monitoring his situation in recent months. However, a curious claim in the papers also claims that Liverpool were also in the market for Sterling.
Raheem Sterling only has eyes for Chelsea
The Daily Star explains that the Reds made an 11th-hour move in an attempt to pry the move from under Chelsea’s noses. However, while the article refuses to explain whether Liverpool have actually made an official move, it is claimed that the 77-times capped Englishman only had eyes for Chelsea. As such, it is claimed that Sterling wants to move to a side where he feels like the main man. At City, Sterling had to share attacking duties with Phil Foden, Jack Grealish, Riyad Mahrez and Bernardo Silva. It would certainly be a similar situation at Liverpool with the competition for places fierce at Anfield. However, moving to Chelsea, Sterling feels that Thomas Tuchel’s side will make him a regular fixture in their squad. And talks with both Tuchel and new owner Todd Boehly have seemingly convinced Sterling that his future is best served at Stamford Bridge. With the World Cup on the horizon, Sterling knows he needs regular game time to feature in Gareth Southgate’s squad.
A return to Liverpool was never on the cards
Despite the report, it seems highly unlikely that Liverpool were actually seconding Raheem Sterling. His departure from Anfield in the summer of 2015 left something bittersweet. And while all of this happened before Jurgen Klopp took over, it seems unlikely that he will actually try to replicate him. The Reds are well served for attacking options. Club-record signing Darwin Nunez rounds out an offense that also boasts plenty of other options. They include Luis Diaz, Diogo Jota, Roberto Firmino and even Mohamed Salah after he recently signed a new contract. Teenage stars Fabio Carvalho and Kaide Gordon are also on the bench.
Does Raheem Sterling make sense at Chelsea?
Will Raheem Sterling be Todd Boehly’s top summer signing? And given the transfer fees a deal for Sterling would entail, it’s a rumor that seems highly unlikely. Indeed, Liverpool’s next giant deal – likely next summer – will be for a young, top midfielder. With James Milner surely in his final season, Jordan Henderson and Thiago are also on the wrong side of 30. To that end, the efforts to sign Jude Bellingham are well documented. The teenage midfielder will likely cost a British record fee if and when Liverpool agree a deal. Klopp, meanwhile, lifted the lid when he became convinced that Nunez was indispensable to Liverpool.
