Chelsea Identify Man City Star As 'Real Target' For Summer Transfer Window

Chelsea have identified Manchester City’s Raheem Sterling as a ‘real target’ in the summer window, according to reports.

The 27-year-old has a year left on his contract at the Etihad and looks increasingly like departing this summer.

Sterling is known to be the subject of interest from Thomas Tuchel’s side, who is looking to rebuild his Chelsea squad this season.

The Blues are willing to listen to offers for attacking trio Hakim Ziyech, Christian Pulisic and Timo Werner and could dip into the market for replacements if one or more of the trio are to depart this summer.

Tuchel’s side have already shortlisted several potential replacements, with Barcelona’s Ousmane Dembele also targeted.

Raheem Sterling on international duty for England. (Alamy)

Sky Sports have now reported that Chelsea have shown interest in Man City’s Gabriel Jesus, but their ‘real target’ is Sterling this summer.

The pair look set to move in the summer, with the Blues hoping to get a cut-price deal due to the length of his contract.

Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur have also been linked with Sterling but previous reports believe that he would be ‘unlikely’ to consider a move to either Chelsea.

It remains unclear as to whether Sterling is looking to move this summer, with Man City adding Erling Haaland to their ranks already in the transfer window.

Tuchel has previously hinted at making additions to his forward line this summer, speaking in May.

He said:”If we stick to the group then we will try to solve it with these players. Is it necessary to bring more offensive players around the box to create more distractions, to create more space for each other? We will ask that question. Can we do better in the structure? Can we push the players more? Did we rotate too much? Let’s see.

Raheem Sterling in action against Chelsea. (Alamy)

"There are a lot of options. The numbers we produce from our offensive players don’t allow us to over-perform and we need over-performance if we want to be nearer to the top two teams. I am not pointing fingers, I am not blaming anybody, but we need over-performance from everybody. It’s not over-performance if we have only single figures in scoring and assisting."

Romelu Lukaku looks set for a departure, less than a year after moving to Stamford Bridge for a club-record £97.5 million.

The transfer, a return to Inter Milan on loan, would free up a space in Chelsea’s attack for next season.