Chelsea will not give up hope on Raphinha despite closing in on a deal for Manchester City winger Raheem Sterling, according to the Daily Mail . The Blues - backed by new owner Todd Boehly - are close to agreeing a deal with the Premier League champions worth £45million for the winger, but will not back out of their end of the Raphinha deal amid a summer of lavish spending.
Sterling has been at the Etihad for seven seasons since joining from Liverpool, with 131 goals in 337 appearances contributing towards four Premier League trophies, but he was often left out of the starting lineup for City’s biggest games last season amid competition from Jack Grealish and Phil Foden.
His potential arrival at Stamford Bridge is not thought to end the club’s pursuit of the Whites winger, with whom a £60million fee has already been agreed between the two clubs. The London-based club have, however, hit a Deco-shaped brick wall when trying to negotiate personal terms.
