As we approach the final days of the summer transfer window, veteran attacker Raheem Sterling has emerged as a shock target for Manchester United.
The 29-year-old has been frozen out of first-team duties at Chelsea following the arrival of their latest manager, with Enzo Maresca advising the player he would struggle for minutes in his side.
Dan Ashworth arrived in the North West with a reputation as a shrewd negotiator with a keen eye for a beneficial acquisition, and he is presently considering the possibility of a surprise deal.
The 2014 Golden Boy winner has accumulated 379 Premier League appearances and provided 185 goal contributions – no mean feat for a top-flight attacker.
Sources close to the Theatre of Red advise that conversations are at an exploratory stage with no guarantee of an agreement.
What we know today
Much of a potential deal surfaced because of Chelsea’s interest in troubled winger Jadon Sancho – the Londoners admire his talents.
While they already possess an array of attacking options, Todd Boehly is keen to formulate a deal and lure Sancho away from the grasp of Serie A side Juventus.
Furthermore, the Italians are keen to obtain a loan package without an obligation to buy and commit to the Englishman’s wages.
The Stamford Bridge outfit appears determined to continue adding star names to their squad – despite the potential ramifications of their exuberant activity.
In an attempt to persuade United to accept a deal for their wantaway star, Sterling and Ben Chilwell have been offered as potential incentives.
Despite a Southern insistence for completion, United sources are adamant that a sale will only occur on their terms, with zero consideration for the desires of the buying club.
With a publicised career at rivals Liverpool and Manchester City – before his mega-money move to London – Sterling is a well-known childhood fan of the 20-time English champions.
He spent eleven seasons in the North West – four on Merseyside and seven in Manchester – collecting ten major trophies and reaching the Champions League final in 2020-21.
At the time of writing, the Kingston-born star has three seasons remaining on his Chelsea deal, and a departure would likely see Maresca’s side pay a large quantity of his remaining salary.
But the emergence of a Sancho swap offers a new perspective, with both players earning a similar wage with bonuses factored into the equation.
Furthermore, Erik ten Hag would bolster his squad with a proven winner while offloading a potentially hazardous personality from his dressing room.
How do you feel about the prospect of a swap between Sancho and Sterling?
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