Chelsea's main attacking target for this summer's transfer window Raheem Sterling has already proven his worth in West London with what both Callum Hudson-Odoi and Reece James have had to say about the Blues' potential new recruit.
It has taken a short while for Chelsea to get going in the summer transfer window but with Lukaku's situation with Inter looking close to a resolution, attention is starting to finally switch towards incomings. Although defence is the main priority in this summer's transfer window amid fresh updates on Jules Kounde and Man City's Nathan Ake respectively, it is in fact another player from the current Premier League champions who looks close to a move to Stamford Bridge.
This is according to The Athletic, who report that confidence is growing between both parties that a deal can be completed in the near future which will see Sterling join Chelsea.
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Sterling is set to enter the final year of his contract with City, and reports vary on the potential cost to Chelsea, with estimates between £35million and £60million. However, he already looks to be doing all he can to acclimatise to his next destination amid Tuchel's management style.
His association with Gareth Southgate's England means he also has good friends in the Chelsea camp already with the likes of James, Hudson-Odoi, Mason Mount and Ben Chilwell already followed by the 27-year-old on his Instagram account @sterling7. Surprisingly, he also follows former Chelsea icon and Real Madrid winger Eden Hazard.
His big-money acquisition could be going down well with two of Chelsea's England contingent. The currently-injured Hudson-Odoi once described Sterling extremely favourably, stating back in 2019: "Someone like Raheem is like an idol to me. The position he plays, and what he's doing for club and country, is an amazing thing, which I will try to replicate myself.
"It's an amazing feeling to have someone like him doing what he's doing and being around you every time. I want to keep learning off what he does. Raheem's a very nice guy, very encouraging, very positive about everything he does. When I first came in, I didn't expect him to be so nice. Of course, he's a nice person but when you see somebody always welcoming you, just talking to you, giving you advice on how he plays and just being around you a lot, it makes you feel so welcome in the team."
James has also praised his England compatriot, stating he is one of the toughest players he's had to play against. "Everyone knows how good a player Raheem Sterling is. It’s very hard playing against him," the right-back was quoted saying back in 2021. "He's probably one of the best wingers in the world at this moment in time and we’re going to need him for [Euro 2020]. Raheem Sterling is definitely up there (as the toughest) and I’d probably say (Sadio) Mane as well."
Chelsea fans- Do both Reece James' and Callum Hudson-Odoi's previous verdicts on Raheem Sterling convince you that he is the right calibre of signing that Thomas Tuchel requires? Leave your thoughts down below in the comments section!
