Chelsea have agreed a £47.5million fee with Manchester City to sign forward Raheem Sterling.
The 27-year-old is expected to undergo a medical in the next few days, with Chelsea hopeful Chelsea a deal will be completed in time to allow the England forward to join the club’s pre-season tour in the United States.
Sterling has remained Chelsea’s top target this summer, even though the Blues were strongly linked with Leeds forward Raphinha and his fellow Brazilian Richarlison.
Sterling has agreed personal terms on a five-year contract with the option of a further 12 months.
Sterling joined City from Liverpool for an initial £49m in July 2015 and has played a key role in their success under Pep Guardiola.
He has won four Premier League titles, one FA Cup and three League Cups at the Etihad Stadium, and scored 131 goals in 339 appearances for the reigning Premier League champions.
Sterling scored 13 Premier League goals last season
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.
City and Chelsea in talks over Ake
Chelsea and Manchester City have also held talks over a deal for Nathan Ake.
Chelsea are in need of defenders after Andreas Christensen and Antonio Rudiger left this summer. The Blues showed interest in Juventus centre-back Matthijs de Ligt, but Sky Germany are reporting the defender wants a switch to Bayern Munich this summer.
Ake, 27, left Chelsea for Bournemouth in 2017 after an initial loan spell before a £40m move to City two years ago.
The Netherlands centre-back saw his game time limited at the Etihad, playing in just 14 Premier League games for Pep Guardiola’s side last season.
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