Aston Villa have opened talks with Chelsea over a potential move to sign Raheem Sterling.
Sterling has been informed that he has no future at Chelsea and is free to leave the West Londoners before the transfer window shuts next Friday.
Enzo Maresca has told the player he does not feature in his plans this season, while Chelsea have allocated Sterling’s number seven shirt to new signing Pedro Neto. The England winger was not included in the squad to face Manchester City last weekend.
According to The Times, Aston Villa have enquired into the conditions of a potential deal. Unai Emery’s side can offer Sterling a route to Champions League football, though the 29-year-old would need to take a significant cut on his current wages to complete a move to Villa Park.
Villa sold Moussa Diaby to Al-Ittihad in a transfer worth £50.5m and remain on the lookout for attacking additions, despite the return of Jaden Philogene from Hull City and Morgan Rogers’ encouraging performances since signing in January.
Sterling would offer the side an experienced and versatile option, having scored 123 goals in his 379 career appearances in the Premier League. A move to Aston Villa could also offer Sterling a launchpad back into the England squad with the 84-cap winger having not been selected for the Three Lions since the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
