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Louis SealeyPublished Aug 26, 2024, 4:05pm|Updated Aug 26, 2024, 4:06pm
Raheem Sterling is open to ending his Chelsea nightmare by completing a shock move to Manchester United, according to reports.
Sterling’s representatives have been considering their options after new Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca banished their client from first-team training and effectively told him to leave.
Sterling, who joined Chelsea from Manchester City in 2022, was left out of the Premier League opener between the two sides last weekend despite featuring in pre-season.
Maresca, who left Championship winners Leicester City to become Chelsea’s new manager last month, initially said Sterling’s absence was due to tactical reasons.
But the 44-year-old then publicly confirmed in a press conference that Sterling – along with fellow Chelsea outcast Ben Chilwell – were training away from the first-team squad and said both should leave before the summer transfer window closes at the end of the month.
That has led Sterling’s representatives to approach several clubs to enquire about a possible move and Manchester United have been touted as a possible destination for the 29-year-old.
Despite bringing in more than ten new players this summer, Chelsea remain open to bolstering Maresca’s squad further before the transfer deadline and have expressed interest in signing United flop Jadon Sancho.
Sancho was left out of Manchester United’s Premier League defeat at Brighton over the weekend and is believed to be keen on leaving Old Trafford, as he did last season when he joined Borussia Dortmund on loan.
Selling Sterling to United could boost Chelsea’s chances of bringing Champions League finalist Sancho to Stamford Bridge and, according to the Daily Mail, Sterling has not ruled out a move to the Theatre of Dreams.
Sterling enjoyed a long and successful spell at United’s local rivals Manchester City but those ties have not put him off of a possible move to United.
The four-time Premier League winner has also been linked with Aston Villa, Crystal Palace and even Arsenal, who have held interest in Sterling at various points over the last few years.
But the Daily Mail say Arsenal are not currently considering poaching Sterling from London rivals Chelsea, though that could change as we approach the transfer deadline later in the week.
Speaking ahead of Arsenal’s 2-0 win over Aston Villa, Mikel Arteta admitted he had strong feelings for Sterling, having worked with the player while he was Pep Guardiola’s assistant at Manchester City.
‘My time with Raheem was exceptional,’ Arteta said last week. ‘We built a really strong relationship together.
‘He was unbelievable at the time we were together. He taught me a lot as well, about individuals, how they, players think, how we support them.
‘He is someone I have really strong feelings about.’
Sterling, who played for Liverpool before Manchester City, has scored 19 goals in 81 appearances for Chelsea.
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