Chelsea are confident of being able to complete the signing of Raheem Sterling from Manchester City this summer, according to reports.
The Blues have been linked with a move for Sterling in recent weeks, with the 27-year-old coming off the back of his fourth Premier League title with the Citizens.
Thomas Tuchel will be keen to bolster his attacking options ahead of next season as Chelsea set their sights on their first league title since 2017.
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Ousmane Dembele is also a speculated name who could make the move to west London this summer due to the expiration of his contract at Barcelona.
However, it seems as though Chelsea could now switch their attention to Sterling in the coming weeks of the transfer window.
According to Gianluca Di Marzio, the World Champions are confident that they will be able to complete the signing of the winger this summer.
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It is believed that a fee could be around £35 million, with the player having just one year left on his contract at the Etihad Stadium.
Sterling made his first appearance in senior football at Liverpool back in 2012 and became the most expensive English player of all time in 2015 when he made the move to City.
He has since gone on to make 339 appearances across all competitions for the club, amassing 226 goals and assists.
Previous reports have suggested that Chelsea will only make a move for the player once Romelu Lukaku has returned to Inter Milan, with the Belgian keen to move back to his former side after just one season at the Blues.
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Even though Sterling’s future is still unclear, it is believed that he would be keen on a move to Chelsea this summer.
The England international is said to have an ambition of playing abroad at some point in his career, but 'the prospect of returning to his London roots is also an appealing prospect', potentially giving Tuchel’s side an advantage should they enter a transfer battle for the player.
Fellow London sides Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur have also been linked with the 27-year-old, but they are not believed to be on the player’s list of options for his next move.
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Chelsea were also reported to be interested in City striker Gabriel Jesus, but Sterling is now considered to be a ‘real target’ for the club in the coming weeks.
A move to Stamford Bridge would be only the second senior transfer of his career, and will ensure he remains in the Premier League for the foreseeable future.
Topics: Chelsea, Chelsea Transfer News & Rumours, Transfers, Football, Raheem Sterling, Manchester City, Premier League
Robert Calcutt