In early May if you'd have told a Chelsea fan that their frontline after September 1 was going to include Raheem Sterling and Wilfried Zaha the reply might have been dismissed as 'interesting, now leave me alone.' In late August it looks a possibility.
The Blues are trying to make a move for the Crystal Palace talisman, though football.london understand that it's not likely. With just one year left on his current deal it does raise the chances of picking up a Premier League proven player with desirable attributes and for a cut-price.
He isn't just seen as an alternative for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang either. Chelsea could pick them both up, but that would take a lot of work in the remaining days of the transfer window. If a deal could be struck at this stage then it would open up a new avenue for Thomas Tuchel's attack, and there's already a relationship there that he can use.
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Alongside Sterling's knowledge of England teammates Reece James, Mason Mount, Callum Hudson-Odoi, Ben Chilwell and Ruben Loftus-Cheek, some of which have already come to fruition in the early weeks of the season, Zaha could slot straight into the Chelsea attack having already formed a good relationship with his possible future compatriots.
In a video from lockdown in 2020, Sterling and Zaha were playing FIFA against each other for an invitational tournament between players and the pair exchanged a brilliant conversation after the full time whistle. In the video featuring much laughter between the pair, Zaha is also showing his annoyance in a joking manner at Sterling passing the ball backwards despite being in on goal in order to score. He said: "We both know that was disgusting."
Sterling then responded, "Wilf, listen to what I'm saying. Crystal Palace are about to win the league, it's the last minute of the game, you're through on goal. Andros Townsend is alongside you. You're gonna pass the ball to get the three points right?"
RS: "Nah I wouldn't pass it back! You didn't pass it to the side you passed it back!"
WZ: "You're proud of yourself. You're sat there. Smug."
RS: "I'm very proud of my self! I won and I can go to bed tonight and sleep peacefully, you're not gonna be happy in your sleep tonight."
Sterling and Zaha never featured on the pitch together for England before Zaha swapped his allegiance to the Ivory Coast. Sterling was substituted off as Zaha came on to make his debut in 2012, and was not being a part of the team that beat Scotland in Zaha's only other international appearance for the Three Lions. Both players moved to London before they turned six, growing up across the capital from each other.
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