Report: Blues get one step closer to completing transfer of priority target

Chelsea are one step closer to finalising Raheem Sterling transfer

Despite the uncertainty surrounding Raphinha at the moment, Chelsea seem to have taken a step in the right direction in their pursuit of Manchester City star Raheem Sterling. 

The 27-year-old is getting ever closer to joining Chelsea and according to Simon Phillips of Talk Chelsea via Caught Offside (h/t football.london), a deal is now “all agreed” for Sterling’s move to West London. 

City have already turned down an initial offer for Sterling as confirmed earlier by Fabrizio Romano but the player himself is interested in a move to Chelsea following discussions with Thomas Tuchel. 

The progression of the deal now depends on Chelsea’s interest in City defender and Cobham graduate Nathan Ake, with the Blues understood to be keen on pulling off a double-swoop. 

A revised offer in the region of £55m has reportedly been accepted for Sterling, while a £50m figure has been floated in regards to Ake’s potential price tag. To pull off the double, Chelsea will likely need to write a cheque north of £100m for the pair. 

Sterling has scored 131 goals and provided 95 assists, meaning 226 goal involvements in 339 appearances for City since joining from Liverpool in the summer of 2015. 

An attainable target

Sterling wants regular football, and discussions with Tuchel have apparently convinced him that he will be getting that at Chelsea. 

Chelsea’s perennial challenge for silverware will also make it easier for Sterling to transition from one trophy-winning juggernaut to another, 

More Chelsea News

• Chelsea move attention to Matthijs de Ligt after Jules Kounde snub
• Transfer News: Neymar could potentially leave PSG this summer
• Transfer News: Chelsea preparing fresh bid for Manchester City star Raheem Sterling

He is familiar with the West London neighbourhood too, having spent seven of his formative years at the Queens Park Rangers academy. 

With so much adding up, there seems to be only one likely outcome to these discussions and if the cited report is to be believed, then maybe Chelsea have their man already. However, it’s not done until it’s ‘really’ done.