Manchester City could sanction a sale for Raheem Sterling in the region of £45 million amid interest from Chelsea, according to a new report.
The 27-year-old has emerged as a top target for Thomas Tuchel following the takeover led by the Boehly-Clearlake consortium ahead of the new campaign.
Sterling is entering the final 12 months of his contract at the Etihad Stadium and has not shown any signs of committing his long-term future to the Premier League champions.
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The England international is believed to have held positive talks with Thomas Tuchel, who is understood to be keen on making Sterling his first attacking signing of the summer.
Manchester City officials held a long-standing belief that Sterling would seek a move abroad should he want to depart the Etihad Stadium.
However, Chelsea have shown the strongest interest in the forward and are leading the race to sign Sterling, who could leave City this summer after a seven-year spell in Manchester.
A telling revelation that has emerged lately is that even those within City are surprised that the England international is keen on a move within the country instead of pushing for a move to Carlo Ancelotti’s side.
Sterling has further been enquiring about how life is under Thomas Tuchel, who has made the Manchester City star a top target for the summer alongside Barcelona’s Ousmane Dembele.
With Chelsea making an initial bid of around £25 million to sign the Englishman, it was revealed that should Chelsea offer in excess of City’s £50 million valuation of Sterling, a deal would come to fruition.
A fresh update has surfaced that discusses how close the Kingston-born wideman’s move to Stamford Bridge is as Sterling aims to sort his club future out in the coming weeks.
As per the latest information provided by Ben Jacobs of CBS Sports, Chelsea are hopeful of signing Raheem Sterling for a ‘similar price’ as quoted for Arsenal-bound Gabriel Jesus.
Manchester City are said to value Sterling at around £60 million but are expected to compromise for a £45 million fee, as mentioned in the report.
However, it is stated that Chelsea are set to bid a ‘little lower’ as talks are set for this week, with City keen on getting their desired price for the Englishman if they will sell Sterling
It is worth mentioning Sterling still remains in two minds about his future as he holds talks with City over his future before the Blues jet off to the United States for pre-season in July.
The situation he favours least is running down his contract at the Etihad Stadium as Sterling eyes long-term stability from his next career move.
While only time will tell which shade of blue Raheem Sterling dons next term, it is worth saying that a transfer is more than doable as Chelsea may eventually meet Manchester City’s asking price.
The former Liverpool superstar could be joined by Oleksandr Zinchenko in departing City, as Bernardo Silva looks set to stay put in Manchester next season.
Topics: Manchester City Transfer News & Rumours, Manchester City, Premier League, Chelsea, Chelsea Transfer News & Rumours, Raheem Sterling
Srinivas Sadhanand