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

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. Many players gravitate towards home, but Sterling has never suggested that to be one of his ambitions. Quite the opposite, in fact.

“Nah, can’t be in London,” he said in 2017 when pressed where he might head after City. “I can’t be near my friends. They got to stay down there.”

Almost in the same breath, Sterling spoke of his hopes to move to the continent. “One day, definitely. It would be nice to play abroad. It would be a great experience. Spain is attractive. Anywhere the weather is nice, really!”

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Nothing amid the highs and lows in the four years up to 2021 changed his mind. “As an English player, all I know is the Premier League and I have always had something down in me that maybe one day I would love to play abroad to see how I would come up against that challenge.”

Staying in England could be a challenge. If Sterling wants a project, then he might consider Arsenal to be one. But if like most people he needs to leave his comfort zone to be tested, Chelsea would be akin to swapping one pair of comfy blue slippers for the same in a darker shade.

If Sterling is serious about embracing an adventure abroad, now would be a fine time to do it. Perhaps only in a year when he can have his pick of clubs as a free agent might the timing be any better, given the financial restrictions some top European clubs are still operating under.

City’s demand is the only aspect of his immediate future Sterling cannot control and the champions’ valuation, if indeed it is around £60million, is extremely prohibitive. For a player a year from free agency, even one with Sterling’s track record, that is silly money.

You can understand City’s thinking, though. They have little motivation to sell Sterling, a player who scored 17 goals last season and started 23 Premier League matches, to anyone they would consider a domestic or European rival. Even with his abundance of attacking players, Pep Guardiola would be perfectly happy to keep the winger for the final 12 months of his contract. If a club loses their mind and coughs up, Sterling will be sent on his way. Otherwise, from City’s perspective, why bother?

Chelsea’s motivation is a little more obvious. If Tuchel doesn’t trust Christian Pulisic or Hakim Ziyech enough to keep them this summer, the Blues need replacements. Even if their greatest requirements are very obviously elsewhere. New owner Todd Boehly may want a marquee signing to begin his tenure, but Chelsea are too sensible to allow that to hamper their efforts to strengthen where it is needed most. And #AnnounceSterling is hardly trending on Chelsea Twitter. The general reaction among Blues to the prospect of signing Sterling seems to be little more enthusiastic than a shrug of the shoulders.

What we know of Sterling is that he won’t be dictated to by anyone, not least us or anyone else hoping that he fulfils his ambition of moving abroad. Even if he has to wait a year, Sterling will still be the same age as David Beckham when he ventured to Real Madrid. The fact that comes as a surprise hints at Sterling’s longevity. Perhaps the fact he’s been a headline act in the Premier League for a decade has bred too much indifference to one of the outstanding talents of his generation.

Joining Chelsea won’t alter that apathy towards Sterling. Certainly not in the same way that thriving abroad would.