In potentially significant transfer news, Chelsea have reportedly set a price tag of £20 million for Raheem Sterling, who is attracting attention from a club competing in the Champions League.
This summer has witnessed a rather eventful reshuffle at Stamford Bridge, especially within their attacking ranks. While Chelsea were obliged to buy Jadon Sancho following his loan from Manchester United, they paid £5 million to reverse that decision and send him back.
Consequently, Raheem Sterling seems to have become surplus to requirements. Having spent last season on loan at Arsenal with limited impact, Chelsea are now open to bids for the former Manchester City winger. As reported by The Athletic, an unnamed Champions League side is interested in acquiring Sterling’s services, with Chelsea willing to accept offers of around £20 million.
The identity of the interested club remains undisclosed, and it remains uncertain whether they will meet the asking price for the 30-year-old forward. Previous reports in June suggested that Besiktas had shown interest in Sterling, with initial talks reportedly held with their then-manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. However, given that Besiktas have not qualified for the Champions League next season, they are unlikely to be the club mentioned in the latest report.
With Sterling’s meagre output last season, featuring in just 17 Premier League matches without scoring and contributing only two assists, it remains to be seen whether other clubs will view him as a £20 million asset.
As Chelsea continue their summer dealings, there is potential for other forwards to depart Stamford Bridge to create space within an increasingly competitive squad. The Athletic further reports that the valuation of Christopher Nkunku has been trimmed by £22 million, now priced at approximately £43.3 million. Meanwhile, Joao Felix has drawn attention from “one large club in Portugal” and additional interest from Saudi Arabia.
With a summer outlay approximating £210 million so far, Chelsea will be eager to recuperate funds, thereby ensuring they remain compliant with Premier League financial regulations.
The large Portuguese club linked with Felix is believed to be Benfica, where the player began his career. Chelsea reportedly seek a similar fee for Felix as they do for Nkunku.
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