The Raheem Sterling-to-Chelsea transfer ticks boxes but excites no-one – not even Sterling, seemingly. A move abroad would douse the apathy around the England star.
A 74-cap England international swapping Big Six clubs in a move worth potentially £60million really ought to be one of the blockbuster transfers of the summer. But the prospect of Raheem Sterling joining Chelsea is all just a bit… meh.
Speculation suggests there is a deal in the pipeline and it may be a good fit for all concerned. Sterling is out of contract at Manchester City next summer and it looks no more likely now than it has at any point in the last two years that he’ll be offered the kind of terms he hoped for. Chelsea need a goal threat, which Sterling undoubtedly offers; City rake in some cash; and the 27-year-old could switch stages seamlessly without the need to alter his ambition or status.
It’s a transfer that would tick plenty of boxes. But hardly one that gets the balls a tingling.
Sterling’s greatest contribution for Chelsea is not turning up in the CL Final. Keep it that way👍
— CFCDaily (@CFCDaily) June 9, 2022
Even from Sterling’s perspective, aside from the prospect of a pay-rise – which, admittedly, is a huge factor just to park and ignore – what’s the appeal of swapping one Champions League team in blue with an abundance of wide attacking players for another 200 miles south?
To some, that last part would be key. Sterling was raised in north-west London after emigrating from Jamaica aged five. Many players gravitate towards home, but Sterling has never suggested that to be one of his ambitions. Quite the opposite, in fact.
“Nah, can’t be in London,” he said in 2017 when pressed where he might head after City. “I can’t be near my friends. They got to stay down there.”
Almost in the same breath, Sterling spoke of his hopes to move to the continent. “One day, definitely. It would be nice to play abroad. It would be a great experience. Spain is attractive. Anywhere the weather is nice, really!”
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Nothing amid the highs and lows in the four years up to 2021 changed his mind. “As an English player, all I know is the Premier League and I have always had something down in me that maybe one day I would love to play abroad to see how I would come up against that challenge.”
Staying in England could be a challenge. If Sterling wants a project,…
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