Chelsea winger Raheem Sterling has been linked with a move away from the West London club this summer, with Aston Villa interested.
Raheem Sterling is unwanted at Chelsea, and a report from The Times has claimed that Aston Villa are hoping to sign the 29-year-old out-of-favour attacker before the summer transfer window shuts down.
Aston Villa have already held talks with Chelsea regarding a move for Sterling, and the Blues are keen to get his wages off their books. The England international earns £325,000-a-week wages, but his performances have been largely mediocre for the West London club.
The Englishman was expected to come in and transform Chelsea in the attack. However, the former Manchester City winger is on the decline. He has not been able to live up to the expectations, and it is no surprise that Chelsea want to cash in on him.
Aston Villa could certainly use more quality and depth in the attacking unit, and it remains to be seen whether they can secure an agreement with Chelsea for the player. Sterling is versatile enough to operate anywhere across the front three, and he has the experience of competing at the highest level. He could prove to be a useful acquisition for the West Midlands club if he can get back to his best.
Aston Villa will be competing in the UEFA Champions League this season, and they need quality and experience. The 29-year-old will add winning experience to the side as well. The Chelsea outcast has won four Premier League titles during his time at Manchester City, and his winning experience and mentality could prove to be invaluable for the Aston Villa dressing room.
However, it is fair to assume that the West Midlands club will not want to overspend on him. It remains to be seen whether Chelsea are ready to sanction his departure for a reasonable price. The Blues will have to accept a substantial loss on the player if they want to move him on this summer.
Meanwhile, Aston Villa have already added sufficient depth in the wide areas the summer, and it remains to be seen whether they are ready to bring in another winger. They should look to improve the other areas of their squad as well.
Raheem Sterling needs a fresh start
Sterling has been linked with a move to Saudi Arabia as well. But it seems that the player wants to stay in England. The opportunity to play for Aston Villa could be an exciting option for him. The Villans will be able to offer him Champions League football, and they have a top class manager like Unai Emery in charge as well.
The winger has been linked with clubs like Juventus and Barcelona as well. It will be interesting to see if all parties can come to an agreement before the transfer window closes. However, Sterling will probably have to accept a major pay cut to get the deal done. Aston Villa will not be able to afford his current wages and it remains to be seen if Chelsea are forced to subsidise his wages to push through a summer move.
