Manchester United and Chelsea have held exploratory conversations over a deal for Raheem Sterling, talkSPORT understands.
Sterling has been left out of the Blues’ first team plans, being stripped of his squad number, left out of Enzo Maresca‘s training and now in need of a move.
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On Tuesday, the Daily Telegraph reported Man United’s sporting director Dan Ashworth had opened talks with the Blues over a deal for current outcast Sterling.
The outlet also report the two parties have discussed swapping him for Man United’s own out of favour winger, Sterling’s former England teammate Jadon Sancho.
Sancho has been left out of Man United’s match day squads for their games over Fulham and Brighton so far.
But The Telegraph report the Sterling deal will only progress into a swap deal for Sancho if it is on their terms.
The outlet also states there is another unnamed European club in contention for Sterling, too.
talkSPORT reported earlier on Tuesday that Sancho is wanted by four clubs, with Chelsea being one of the teams monitoring his situation.
Juventus have been the most serious suitors for the ex-Borussia Dortmund star, but a move to Turin is far from guaranteed.
“The writing is on the wall [for Sancho],” Alex Crook, talkSPORT’s football correspondent, said on Monday.
He continued: “They’re going to struggle to sell him. It would be a loan deal again, he’s still got two years with a one year option left on his contract. He’s on massive money.
“There’s talk of Chelsea.”
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Asked about whether a move to Stamford Bridge would suit Sancho, Crook said: “I don’t see where he fits in at Chelsea.”
“I’d take Sterling,” he added. “A lot of Manchester United fans would not, but I think he’s better than Sancho. I think he can bring more to the team.”
In order for the swap deal with Chelsea to work out, firstly, Sancho would have to take a pay cut.
Secondly, United would have to be willing to sign £300,000-a-week Raheem Sterling, who wants a permanent move rather than a loan.
Chelsea have a ‘Bomb Squad’ they are looking to get off their books before transfer deadline day.
That includes Sterling, Ben Chilwell and Trevoh Chalobah.
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