Raheem Sterling to Chelsea – the least interesting blockbuster transfer of the summer?

Liverpool have to plan for life without Salah and Mane

England are still a work in progress under Southgate

Frenkie de Jong would be a massive coup for Man United

Liverpool need Darwin Nunez to keep pace with Man City

Chelsea's new transfer policy

The Raheem Sterling-to-Chelsea transfer ticks boxes but excites no-one – not even Sterling, seemingly. A move abroad would douse the apathy around the England star.

A 74-cap England international swapping Big Six clubs in a move worth potentially £60million really ought to be one of the blockbuster transfers of the summer. But the prospect of Raheem Sterling joining Chelsea is all just a bit… meh.

Speculation suggests there is a deal in the pipeline and it may be a good fit for all concerned. Sterling is out of contract at Manchester City next summer and it looks no more likely now than it has at any point in the last two years that he’ll be offered the kind of terms he hoped for. Chelsea need a goal threat, which Sterling undoubtedly offers; City rake in some cash; and the 27-year-old could switch stages seamlessly without the need to alter his ambition or status.

It’s a transfer that would tick plenty of boxes. But hardly one that gets the balls a tingling.

Sterling’s greatest contribution for Chelsea is not turning up in the CL Final. Keep it that way

— CFCDaily (@CFCDaily) June 9, 2022

Even from Sterling’s perspective, aside from the prospect of a pay-rise – which, admittedly, is a huge factor just to park and ignore – what’s the appeal of swapping one Champions League team in blue with an abundance of wide attacking players for another 200 miles south?

To some, that last part would be key. Sterling was raised in north-west London after emigrating from Jamaica aged five.