Manchester City could be selling Raheem Sterling to Chelsea this summer, potentially strengthening a Premier League title rival ahead of next season, and Kevin Campbell warned that it ‘wouldn’t look great’ if Sterling ended up firing the Blues to success.
The 27-year-old has one year remaining on his deal at the Etihad Stadium and isn’t close to putting pen to paper on an extension, so City will be forced to cash in early rather than risk losing Sterling for nothing in 2023.
Chelsea, who finished third in the league last season, want to bring the England international to Stamford Bridge, but Campbell says Pep Guardiola may live to regret the decision. He told Football Insider: “The quality in their squad is so high.
“If they look to sell a player only the best teams, who are their rivals, can afford to buy them. They are the teams that will look to buy them. No other teams can afford these players wages.
“Once you embark on that route, there are positive and negatives. That is one of the negatives when you look at it. Let’s say Sterling went to Chelsea and got 20-25 goals… It wouldn’t look great. That could happen.
“It is a chance that Man City have to take after bringing in (Erling) Haaland. It is one of those things.” Sterling scored 17 goals with nine assists from 47 games this season, so he’s coming off the back of a positive campaign.
The 27-year-old has hit double figures for league goals in each of the last five seasons, so Chelsea would be signing a sure thing if they get Sterling. He’s had a hand in 122 goals from 161 games in that time too, so the Blues would be giving their title pursuit a major boost.
City would be losing a player that contributes a goal every other game, so Campbell is right to warn them over selling to a rival.
In other news, Man City to sell Samuel Edozie to Bayer Leverkusen after agreement was reached