Chelsea are reportedly now ‘confident’ of closing a deal for Manchester City forward Raheem Sterling, in a deal worth around £35m, according to sources in Italy.
Sterling is out of contract in 2023, and has shown little sign of wanting to sign a new deal with Pep Guardiola’s side, leaving him open to a departure from Manchester this summer.
Often overlooked in big matches, the Englishman started neither of the Champions League semi-final ties against Real Madrid, and is reportedly keen to reassert his status as one of the World’s best forwards away from the Etihad.
And, as per Gianluca di Marzio, a deal with Chelsea could be struck this summer, with the Blues ‘confident’ of striking a deal for the Cityzen in what would set them back a fee of around £35m.
Update: @ChelseaFC are now confident to close #Sterling deal from @ManCity. Transfer fee could be around £35millions. 🔵 #CFC
Details 👉 https://t.co/aaH9JivdLP 👈 pic.twitter.com/9BYsVDuyLW— Gianluca Di Marzio (@DiMarzio) June 19, 2022
Valued at £63m by transfer fee calculation site transfermarkt, and given that City are demanding over £40m for fellow forward Gabriel Jesus, who is also out of contract in 2023, the fee seems on the low side for an Englishman still only 27 years old, not least the potential sale to a direct rival.
Kounde in the works?
Thomas Tuchel is also keen on adding defenders to his ranks, having lost both Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen on free transfers to Real Madrid and Barcelona respectively.
Jules Kounde remains the main target, with the Sevilla defender thought to be set on a move away this summer, though how concrete competition from Barcelona will be is yet to be seen.
Jules Kounde has been a long term Chelsea target (Photo by Juanjo Ubeda/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images)
Meanwhile, there is also thought to be interest in Nathan Ake, another Manchester City man, though whether a double swoop is possible for Thomas Tuchel is another matter.
Read more:
Sunday’s transfer rumours: Hickey, Tielemans, Hincapie, Dembele, Sterling and more
Chelsea have ‘doubts’ about Dembele and keen on Nathan Ake return
