Man City forward Raheem Sterling agrees personal terms with Chelsea.

Raheem Sterling: Man City forward and Chelsea reach a personal agreement.

After Romelu Lukaku returned to Inter Milan on loan, Chelsea sought out extra firepower, and Raheem Sterling was at the top of Thomas Tuchel’s wishlist of offensive targets. Sterling was in the final year of his contract with Man City.
Raheem Sterling and Chelsea have reached a personal agreement, and his transfer from Manchester City is now certain.

The England international, who was at the top of Thomas Tuchel’s list of potential offensive targets, was in the final year of his contract with City, who are appreciative of his service and will not stand in the way of his desire for more playing time and prominence elsewhere.

Pep Guardiola has repeatedly stated “I don’t like to keep players that are unhappy” and was open to allowing Sterling’s exit this summer, even to a Premier League rival, on condition that an acceptable bid in the region of £50m is tabled.

Tuchel was desperate to add a decisive edge in the final third to cure Chelsea’s goalscoring issues and new Blues owner Todd Boehly had been in touch with City to discuss figures and the structure of a deal.

Sterling would offer Tuchel a guaranteed threat – he has directly contributed a combined 165 goals in the division in 320 appearances for Liverpool and City – as well as tactical flexibility and experience.

The 27-year-old believes he is in the decisive phase of his career and wants to make a significant contribution on and off the pitch.

The fact that City can cede two attackers to members of the ‘Big Six’ – Gabriel Jesus to Arsenal for £45m and Sterling to Stamford Bridge – without trepidation is a sign of their solid recruitment and the gap that exists between the clubs.