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Chelsea’s new owners are poised to make their first marquee signing after agreeing a fee worth up to £50m with Manchester City for Raheem Sterling.
The England winger has already agreed personal terms on a five-year contract with an option of a further year.
Chelsea, who will make Sterling their highest earner by handing him a deal worth just over £300,000 a week, will complete the signing once the 27-year-old passes his medical.
The deal is a major boost for Chelsea’s new co-owner, Todd Boehly, who has taken temporary charge of the club’s recruitment.
Raheem Sterling to Chelsea, here we go! Final approval arrived from Man City. £45m fee plus £10m add-ons. Personal terms agreed days ago, it was never an issue. It’s done 🚨🔵 #CFC
Contract until 2027 plus option for further year. Tuchel already had direct conversation with him. pic.twitter.com/tr15HUp2B1
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 9, 2022
Thomas Tuchel wants to upgrade his attack and identified Sterling as a key target at the start of the summer.
Tuchel wants more ruthlessness in the final third and he has held positive talks with Sterling about where he will fit in at Chelsea, who are also in talks with City over a deal to sign the Netherlands centre-back Nathan Aké.
City have not been minded to block either player from leaving.
Sterling, who hopes to link up with Chelsea’s squad on their pre-season tour of America soon, slipped down the pecking order in Pep Guardiola’s attack in the past two seasons. Aké, who has already agreed personal terms on a return to Chelsea, also wants to start on a more regular basis.
Chelsea need to strengthen their defence after losing Antonio Rüdiger and Andreas Christensen on free transfers.
A deal for Aké should be straightforward as long as they offer City over £40m. Tuchel is a long-time admirer of Aké, who came through Chelsea’s academy before joining Bournemouth in 2017, and tried to sign him when he managed Borussia Dortmund.
In addition to Aké, Chelsea’s defensive targets include Juventus’s Matthijs de Ligt, Paris Saint-Germain’s Presnel Kimpembe, Napoli’s Kalidou Koulibaly and Sevilla’s Jules Koundé. Bayern Munich are also trying to sign De Ligt.