Raheem Sterling transfer latest: Todd Boehly intervenes, as Man City compromise gifts Chelsea bargain deal
Todd Boehly is preparing the new Chelsea bid for Raheem Sterling, and a fresh report has claimed Man City are prepared to compromise in negotiations.
Varying reports have claimed Romelu Lukaku’s impending exit could release the restraints on Chelsea’s summer spending. Determining the fate of the club’s record signing and top earner was something the Blues had to decide first.
The Belgian is reportedly on course to return to Inter Milan on loan with Chelsea receiving a fee potentially rising to £10.3m. Per Sky Sports, all of his wages will be subsidised after Lukaku agreed a 30 percent pay-cut.
With the shackles removed, the Telegraph noted Thomas Tuchel will now have free reign to spend £200m this summer.
Matthijs de Ligt and Jules Kounde are targets at the back. But in the final third, a move for Raheem Sterling is taking shape.
Tuchel has reportedly already made contact with the 27-year-old, who is about to enter the final year of his contract with City.
Now, transfer guru Fabrizio Romano shed light on the situation, tweeting Chelsea ‘will submit a new proposal’ soon. In fact, the journalist claimed the Blues are working on it right now.
Tuchel is deemed to ‘want’ the potent attacker and it’s reaffirmed personal terms have already been discussed, though not necessarily agreed.
Leading Chelsea’s charge is new owner Todd Boehly. With Marina Granovskaia due to step down after the transfer window concludes, Boehly is acting as interim sporting director.
Romano noted the negotiations with Man City were being led by Granovskaia, but it is Boehly who has now taken control and will be the one to submit the bid.
City willing to compromise on fee
A second update from CBS Sports’ Ben Jacobs heightened hope over the switch.
The journalist tweeted Chelsea are hopeful of landing Sterling for the same sort of price City are expected to sell Gabriel Jesus to Arsenal for. The Brazilian is poised to command a £50m fee according to the Daily Mail.
City value Sterling at the £60m mark, but Jacobs claimed they are willing to compromise and may even accept an offer as low as £45m. The fact Sterling only has 12 months left on his deal is likely a factor behind their softened stance.
Jacobs also noted Chelsea are expected to bid lower than Sterling’s value first. That is a common transfer strategy deployed by most clubs, though may ensure it is the offer after the looming one that ultimately twists City’s arm.
£45m fantastic value for Raheem Sterling
The question many Chelsea fans may be asking is: If Sterling isn’t good enough for City, why is he good enough for us?
The simple fact is Sterling is and has been good enough at the Etihad for years. The main reason why he now looks on course to leave stems from his contract status and the sheer weight of competition City have amassed in their forward line.
£100m signing Jack Grealish rarely featured when it mattered most last season, for example. By contrast, Sterling still plundered 17 goals and nine assists across all competitions despite being in and out of the team.
Raheem Sterling over Ousmane Dembele for Chelsea
Chelsea believe that Raheem Sterling is the better option compared to Ousmane Dembele due to poor injury record
At 27, Sterling still has plenty of fuel left in the tank. What’s more, he’ll be highly motivated to prove City and Pep Guardiola wrong for not making him a regular in recent times.
Sterling is the personification of the term ‘Premier League-proven’. His pace and direct running will also give Tuchel a threat in behind, something they lack unless Timo Werner plays.
