Antonio Conte’s Napoli are interested in acquiring the services of Chelsea outcast Raheem Sterling in the ongoing transfer window.
Raheem Sterling’s future has been a massive talking point for months as he is no longer a part of Chelsea’s plans, and the Blues are keen on getting him off their books. While multiple top clubs have been linked with him, nothing concrete has happened so far.
According to a report from Fichajes, Napoli have emerged as surprise contenders to sign the 31-year-old English winger. The Italian giants are keen on reinforcing their attack mid-season, and they see Sterling as a great option.
The Liverpool graduate made quite a name for himself while playing for Manchester City from 2015 to 2022. On the back of his impressive performances for Pep Guardiola’s team, Chelsea forked out £50 million in the summer of 2022 to acquire his services.
While he was an integral part of their plans in the initial years, the 31-year-old eventually went down the pecking order. He was then loaned out to Arsenal for the 2024/25 season. Mikel Arteta pushed hard to add him to their squad, but the move didn’t really go according to plan for both parties.
Following his return last summer, Chelsea did try hard to get him off their books, but they couldn’t find him a new club. Enzo Maresca left him out of his squad, and he has been training away from the main group ever since.
Napoli are keen on signing Sterling
With the transfer window reopening, his future has once again become a massive talking point. Sterling has been linked with quite a few English clubs. While he certainly prefers staying in London, nothing concrete has come of those links.
It seems he could end up moving to Italy instead, as Napoli are quite keen on signing him. They seek more quality out wide on the flanks, and Conte wants a proven star in his ranks. As a result, the Naples-based club are ready to push for Sterling’s signature despite the fact that he hasn’t played any football this season.
Since he is not a part of Chelsea’s plans, signing him won’t be that difficult. While the wages could be a hurdle, the former City star could agree to take a significant pay cut. They are willing to offer him a long-term deal, but want him to terminate his contract with the London club and join them for free.
