Former England international Stuart Pearce has praised “unbelievable” Raheem Sterling amid rumours linking the forward with a move to Chelsea. The Blues aren’t alone in their reported interest, though, as London rivals Arsenal and Tottenham are said to be monitoring the winger, along with La Liga giants Real Madrid.
The 27-year-old could be part of an attacking overhaul for Thomas Tuchel, with his side struggling to take their chances during key matches throughout the season. While Romelu Lukaku ended the campaign as the top scorer across all competitions, he managed just 15 goals despite the club-record transfer fee.
This was only further enhanced by the stats, via FBRef, which show that while the Blues have the third-best xG (Expected Goals) in the Premier League, with 67.2, they were still 22 Expected Goals behind both Liverpool and Manchester City. It shows just how much work will have to be done to catch up with the leaders if the side are to make a title charge next time out.
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Discussing his attacking frustrations, Tuchel said late in the season: "We need an assist from a wing-back and a goal from a wing-back. You can see the numbers of our offensive players and the numbers that are in front of us."
The summer transfer window provides an opportunity for the German coach to rethink his squad, with new ownership in Todd Boehly's consortium, allowing them to spend reportedly in the region of £200million in the market. The likes of Timo Werner, Hakim Ziyech and Christian Pulisic have been linked with an exit, while Sterling has been touted as a potential arrival.
In light of such links, former England defender Stuart Pearce has praised the Manchester City forward, saying on TalkSPORT: "It's unbelievable he's only 27 years old with the experience and how well he's done, both for club and country.
"He'll go wherever I think he thinks his next personal challenge is. He might fancy abroad. There will be a lot of takers for him. I think he's been sensational. He's added goals over the last five years."
The 27-year-old forward has continued to impress, scoring 13 and assisting six last campaign in 30 appearances. With just one-year remaining on his deal at the Etihad, he could be a huge boost that the Blues need to find the net regularly once again.
