Chelsea plan to have a busy final day of the transfer window as they line up potential deals for both Jadon Sancho and Victor Osimhen – but their chances of success revolve around resolving their Raheem Sterling conundrum.
i understands Chelsea do not have to sign one or the other today – they have the capacity to bring in both – but sources say deciding what to do with Sterling, whom they are “desperate to shift”, is key.
Sterling is owed around £70m in wages from the three years he currently has left on his lengthy Blues contract, meaning one of the biggest pay-offs in Premier League history is going to need to take place for him to depart on a permanent deal.
Manchester United have discussed bringing Sterling to Old Trafford, with new sporting director Dan Ashworth especially keen, i has been told.
However, his £325,000-a-week wages remain an obstacle, meaning that with United’s transfer pot almost empty after Manuel Ugarte’s capture is complete, any deal seems unlikely unless a loan can be agreed.
Arsenal are reportedly pursuing a late deal for Sterling too, but that would also be a loan move where Chelsea will still cover a large portion of his wages.
Should Sterling leave, with new Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca making it abundantly clear the England international is not part of his plans, then both Sancho and Osimhen joining could complete a remarkable window for the Blues.
United are keen to secure Sancho an exit before the window closes, with the 24-year-old having also been omitted from both of his side’s Premier League match squads so far this season.
As i reported earlier this week, Juventus had been very confident of agreeing a loan deal with United for Sancho, but the player is understood to prefer a move to Chelsea and the Turin club are struggling to get the funds together, with United commanding a substantial loan fee. A Chelsea switch would likely be a loan with an obligation to buy.
United are under no pressure to sell, and while they would like to strengthen their forward options if Sancho leaves, they are not desperate to do so.
Osimhen is another big name who is almost certain to move somewhere on deadline day. There is an agreement in place with Saudi Arabian club Al-Ahli to take the Nigerian striker to the Middle East, but Osimhen is waiting to see what Chelsea and even Paris Saint-Germain put on the table before making any decision.
The Napoli hitman’s agent Roberto Calenda took to social media to insist his start client has “much more to offer in Europe” this week.
Further Chelsea outgoings to free up funds and the few remaining squad numbers are expected. Deivid Washington is on the verge of joining Strasbourg, who are also co-owed by Blues chief Todd Boehly and his BlueCo holding company, with Ben Chilwell, Trevoh Chalobah and Armando Broja among those pushing for moves.
“Chelsea could have the busiest deadline day since it became a thing,” one intermediately who regularly works with Chelsea tells i.
“They do not need to put a limit on their incomings like other clubs have to do to stay within PSR (the Premier League’s Profitability and Sustainability Rules). So many have already left and more will go.
“Sancho and Osimhen could be the star signings their summer business is missing.”
One target Chelsea look set to miss out on is Ivan Toney, after the Brentford striker agreed to join Al-Ahli on a £40m deal, i understands.
Signing both Osimhen and Toney could prove problematic for Al-Ahli, who would have until Monday night’s Saudi Premier League deadline to free up a foreign player slot – SPL clubs are permitted only two overseas players over 21.
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