Chelsea are the latest to throw their hat in the ring in a potential move for Manchester City and England star Raheem Sterling after news began circulating that the talented winger could be ready to leave Manchester City even as soon as this summer.
With still one year remaining on his City contract, Sterling’s game time noticeably dipped in recent months under Pep Guardiola, leading clubs around Europe expecting Sterling to move on from the blue half of Manchester this summer.
The Telegraph reports that Chelsea are reportedly the Premier League club displaying the greatest interest in the City winger but are expecting stiff competition from other sides across the continent, with Real Madrid also keeping keeping a keen eye on Sterling.
According to ESPN, the England winger will only commit to some serious thinking about his future after England’s Nations League clashes at the start of June. It is further reported that Sterling is aware the next contract he signs will be the most important of his career as City are rumored to have tabled a five-year deal.
This effectively means that Sterling will be 32 by the time that deal ends and the opportunity to play abroad could well have passed him by. Nevertheless, City are hopeful of keeping the 27-year-old as he moves into the final year of his deal.
Earlier this season, Guardiola spoke about his admiration for Sterling, saying: “Nobody doubts how important it is.”
“What I want is [day after day] to play good. Not just him, but all the players. If we count the amount of games he has played since we are together, it is a lot. He is a key player.
“About the future, I don’t know what is going to happen. The club decides. I give my opinion but of course the club takes the decision all the time.”