Chelsea have approached Arsenal to offer them the opportunity to acquire winger Raheem Sterling, according to a report.
Sterling was unexpectedly left out of Chelsea’s squad for the season opener, and manager Enzo Maresca has publicly advised the 29-year-old to find a new team before the Friday deadline, warning that he will not feature in any matches this season if he stays.
Manchester United have been contacted and have shown interest in a potential swap deal involving Jadon Sancho moving to Chelsea in exchange. Chelsea is interested but must resolve the details of Sterling’s remaining three years on his substantial £325,000-a-week contract.
Meanwhile, Chelsea has also notified Arsenal about Sterling’s availability. Arsenal is looking for a new forward and had previously been interested in Athletic Club’s Nico Williams, who has decided to stay with his current team for at least another season despite interest from several top European clubs.
Chelsea hopes Arsenal will consider Sterling, who has recently received high praise from Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta. If Arsenal pursues the deal, it is unlikely they or Manchester United will match Sterling’s current salary, so Chelsea might need to offer additional compensation to facilitate his departure. The possibility of Sterling staying at Stamford Bridge remains on the table given the complexities of the situation.
