Chelsea swoop for Manchester City duo Raheem Sterling and Nathan Ake, Ajax demand £70m for Antony from Manchester United

Chelsea to pinch pair from Premier League rivals Chelsea have made a formal approach to sign Manchester City duo Raheem Sterling and Nathan Ake, according to the Telegraph. The club’s new owner Todd Boehly reportedly made contact with Chelsea’s Premier League rivals on Monday and Sterling has also held talks with Blues boss Thomas Tuchel regarding where he would fit in at Stamford Bridge. The England international would be open to moving to the west London club, while Ake would be willing to return to Chelsea – the club he joined as a 15-year-old back in 2011.

Chelsea are also keeping an eye on Raphinha, Richarlison and Ousmane Dembele as alternative targets to Sterling. Ad/> /> Transfers‘Doesn’t know the word pain’ – What Martinez could bring to Arsenal or Man Utd12 HOURS AGO Paper Round’s view: On paper the Sterling decision seems like a very strange deal. Why would Manchester City sell one of their best players to a direct Premier League rival? Well, Sterling’s current contract expires in 2023 – so City need to sell him this summer, otherwise they risk losing him for free in a year’s time.

Then you must question which clubs can actually afford to meet Sterling’s wage demands. This leaves a handful of clubs – but mainly Premier League clubs due to the finances involved in the English top-flight. Maybe City could have just allowed Sterling’s contract to expire to open the opportunity for him to move abroad, but that still would not have been a guarantee.