Chelsea are closing in on the signing of England forward Raheem Sterling from Manchester City.
The 27-year-old looks set to become the first signing of the Todd Boehly era in a deal worth around £55million.
The Blues are hoping to wrap up the deal for the former Liverpool man in time for him to form part of the travelling party that departs for America on Saturday, for the club’s pre-season tour.
Sterling, whose contract at the Etihad was set to expire in a year’s time, was keen on a switch to Stamford Bridge following a positive chat with Thomas Tuchel.
The German sees Sterling as a key player for his side and after being dropped by Pep Guardiola for some of City’s biggest games last season, Sterling wanted guarantees that the same wouldn’t happen in west London.
In his trophy-filled seven years with the Citizens, Sterling won four Premier League titles, one FA Cup and five League Cups.
In 339 games for the reigning Premier League champions, the 77-time England international scored 131 goals and laid on 94 assists.
He looks set to finish his Manchester City career averaging well over a goalscoring contribution in every other match.
Having being signed from Liverpool for £49m by Manuel Pellegrini in 2015, Sterling made his bow in a 3-0 win at West Bromwich Albion in August 2015.
With that in mind, HITC Sport takes a look back at the Manchester City XI on Raheem Sterling’s debut.
Manchester City XI on Raheem Sterling debut
After not being fancied by Guardiola, Joe Hart looks to have got his career back on track following a move to Celtic last summer.
Hart had spells with Torino, West Ham, Burnley and Tottenham, but he looks to be enjoying his football once again with the Hoops and won the league and cup double in his first season up north.
Following his move from Arsenal, Bacary Sagna spent three years at the Etihad and made 86 appearances. Before calling time on his playing career, the Frenchman had spells in Italy with Benevento and in the MLS with Montreal.
Vincent Kompany established himself as one of the best centre-back and captains in the Premier League era during his 11 years with City.
After winning four Premier Leagues, two FA Cups and four League Cups, the Belgian moved back to his homeland and took up the role as player manager at his former club Anderlecht.
Kompany is back in England after taking the reins at Burnley where he will be targeting an immediate return to the top-flight with the Clarets.
In August 2014, Manchester City paid Porto £32m to sign Eliaquim Mangala, but the eight-time France international didn’t live up to the billing.
Despite manhandling and dominating Diego Costa on his debut, Mangala failed to kick on and establish himself as a mainstay alongside Kompany.
The 31-year-old, who made 79 appearances for City and had loan spells with Valencia and Everton is currently a free agent following his release from Ligue 1 side Saint-Etiennne.
Aleksandar Kolarov, who recently announced his retirement, had seven years in Manchester following his arrival from Lazio.
The Serbian, who possessed a cannon of a left foot, made 246 appearances for City before returning to Italy with Roma before finishing his playing career with Inter Milan where he won the Scudetto under Antonio Conte in 2020-21.
Sterling looks set to follow Fernandinho out the City exit door this summer. The Brazilian, who spent eight years with the Citizens following his arrival from Shakhtar Donetsk, has re-joined his former club Athletico Paranaense on a free transfer.
The 37-year-old, who was one of the best defensive midfielders in Europe in his pomp, won five Premier Leagues, six League Cups and the FA Cup while making 383 appearances for the Etihad side.
Partnering Fernandinho in City’s midfield against Tony Pulis’ Baggies in August 2015 was Premier League legend Yaya Toure.
The powerful and classy Ivorian was unplayable on his day, winning games single-handedly with his driving runs from deep and goalscoring prowess from range.
The former Champions League winner with Barcelona made 316 appearances for City, from which he scored 79 goals and provided 49 assists.
With Sterling on the left at the Hawthorns, Spanish winger Jesus Navas was deployed on the right.
The pacey Spaniard spent four seasons with City before returning to La Liga side Sevilla who he is close to making 600 career appearances for.
Occupying the free roaming number 10 role was Spanish wizard David Silva who took the Premier League by storm with his craft, guile, vison and creativity.
You couldn’t lay a glove on Silva – you could have a plan in place to try and thwart the former Valencia star, but he would always find a way of carving open the opposition’s defence.
Silva spent a decade with City, making 436 appearances, which brought 77 goals and 140 assists. He will forever be remembered as one of the best foreign signings in Premier League history.
Leading the line for Pellegrini’s side against West Brom was former Swansea City man Wilfried Bony.
City paid the Welsh side £28m to sign the Ivorian in January 2015. From 46 appearances for City, Bony scored 11 goals.
After a season-long loan at Stoke City, Bony returned to the Liberty Stadium on a permanent deal. The 33-year-old is currently a free agent.
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