Raheem Sterling will snub reported transfer interest from Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur to join Chelsea this summer after the Manchester City forward spoke with Thomas Tuchel.
That’s according to BBC Sport, who report the German persuaded Sterling to move to west London after his personal pitch. Tuchel convinced the England international that he should call Stamford Bridge his home after outlining the precise plans he envisages for him there.
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Sterling appreciated the vision Tuchel mapped out and how he will fit the Blues’ attacking line. He also sees a switch from the Etihad Stadium to the capital as his best route to start a fresh challenge at a club where the 27-year-old can achieve his personal and team goals.
Sterling snubbing Arsenal, Tottenham to join Chelsea for Ballon d’Or dream
Pep Guardiola had hoped to see Sterling stay at Manchester City this summer. But he will leave on the belief that this is the most important contract decision of his career. The 77-cap Three Lions dynamo had a year remaining on his £300k-a-week deal with the Citizens.
A move to west London will also allow Sterling to continue challenging for all of the major team honours, he believes. The forward also considers the switch to be his best chance to fulfil a dream of winning the Ballon d’Or after finishing 15th as the top Englishman in 2021.
Sterling has already won almost all there is to lift as a team through his seven years at the Etihad. The £49m signing from Liverpool in 2015 has helped City seal four Premier League titles, five EFL Cups and one FA Cup. Only the Champions League has alluded the winger.
Stamford Bridge switch sees Sterling snub north London future
Chelsea will pay Manchester City £45m for Sterling to join in time for their pre-season tour of the United States, per The Independent. A Stamford Bridge switch will also see him snub a future in north London, having been on the radars of the Blues’ two major capital rivals.
That’s according to the Mirror, who noted in June that both Arsenal and Tottenham were also interested in Sterling’s transfer. But Tuchel’s personal pitch has seemingly seen Mikel Arteta and Antonio Conte fail in their efforts to sign a target dreaming of Ballon d’Or glory.
It is easy to see why Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham were keen for Sterling to join them. The forward Guardiola hails for his ‘amazing’ output offered 17 goals and nine assists over 47 appearances last season. Even though he only started 32 games across all competitions.
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