Chelsea-linked Raheem Sterling would like assurances that he will be a starter next season as he looks likely to leave Manchester City, according to reports.
The 27-year-old is looking increasingly like departing the Etihad with a year left on his contract, with Chelsea a potential destination.
According to the Sun, Sterling will seek assurances regarding his game time before he makes a decision on where to move to.
The report states that Sterling has been identified as a ‘marquee signing’ for Chelsea’s new owners after the Todd Boehly-Clearlake Capital consortium have taken over at the club.
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With just a year left on his contract at the Etihad, the England international could be seen as an affordable option for Thomas Tuchel in attack.
However, he is keen to play regular football ahead of the 2022 World Cup, with the forward keen to seek assurances regarding his game time before deciding on a move.
Man City would demand a fee of £60m for Sterling this summer despite only having a year left on his contract.
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Chelsea have also been heavily linked with Sterling’s teammate Gabriel Jesus as they look for forward options ahead of the new season.
This comes as club-record signing Romelu Lukaku is rumoured to be returning to Inter Milan on a loan deal after just one season back at Stamford Bridge, arriving for £97.5m last summer.
Chelsea will be looking to dip into the market to replace the forward if he is to leave, but this will most likely be with a ‘specialist replacement’, which Sterling is not.
The England international operates in wider areas, which could see his arrival mean the end for some of Chelsea’s current attacking options.
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Timo Werner, Callum Hudson-Odoi, Christian Pulisic and Hakim Ziyech all play in similar roles to that which Sterling would occupy, with it believed that at least one of these would have to leave to make space for the Man City star.
It was reported that the Blues would listen to offers for Pulisic, Werner and Ziyech in the transfer window as Chelsea look to close the gap to Man City and Liverpool in the Premier League next season.
Christopher Nkunku and Ousmane Dembele have also been linked, with Tuchel set to be given £200m and full control of the Chelsea rebuild in the summer transfer window.
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It remains to be seen whether Sterling will join Chelsea, but with a Man City departure looking ever more likely, a move to Stamford Bridge could be on the cards.
Topics: Chelsea, Chelsea Transfer News & Rumours, Manchester City, Football, Raheem Sterling
Nick Emms