In the last 24 hours, a flurry of reports in the British media has speculated what could be next in the saga linking Raheem Sterling to Chelsea.
The England international swapped Merseyside for Manchester in the summer of 2015 and has become a truly iconic Manchester City footballer.
At his best, in 2018/19, Sterling made 42 goal contributions and won FWA Footballer of the Year for his incredible efforts on and off the field.
Advert
His sheer consistency in front of goal will be something incredibly difficult to replace and there has yet been no reports of any potential replacement should the 27-year-old depart.
Chelsea were quickly established as the frontrunners despite interest from Barcelona and Real Madrid, with the London-based outfit looking to make a statement summer signing under the new ownership.
And Sterling - especially considering his international pedigree - would certainly be just that.
This season has not been the most prolific of his blossoming career, but the forward still entered the Premier League 100-club with his cooly converted penalty against Wolves.
Advert
However, with the likes of Jack Grealish and Riyad Mahrez preferred to Sterling in some of the club's biggest games, he is assessing all his options before committing to a long-term deal.
With 12 months left on his current deal, negotiating a high fee for the Englishman would be problematic for City, but reports say they are looking for a fee in the £45 million range.
The Times have produced a fresh report on the situation - detailing what we know so far and how it could progress.
One key point to pick out is Sterling had hoped to stay at City, but Guardiola could not give him the assurances that he requested over game time.
Advert
Recently entering the club's top ten all-time top goalscorer list, Sterling has immortalised himself as a City great and it makes total sense to continue that incredible journey.
But as he enters his prime, Sterling simply has to be playing football week-in, week-out.
Under Thomas Tuchel, Sterling can continue his development as a player and compete for major trophies - the same guarantees City provide.
Advert
The former Champions League winners do have a lot of squad depth in attacking areas, but Sterling's statistics alone are far superior to the rest and should earn him a spot in the starting XI.
Seeing the 27-year-old leave the club will be a bittersweet moment for the club and its supporters, but one that feels right for all parties involved.
City themselves are stacked with attacking options and the arrivals of Erling Haaland and Julian Alvarez will further soften the blow.
However, finding an adequate replacement for the forward may turn out to be impossible.
Featured Image Credit: News Images / AlamyTopics: Manchester City, Raheem Sterling, Premier League, Chelsea, Manchester City Transfer News & Rumours