Sterling is admired by Thomas Tuchel
Chelsea are preparing to make a move for Manchester City winger Raheem Sterling this summer, providing that they can offload Romelu Lukaku.
The Mirror reports that Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel is keen on bringing Sterling to Stamford Bridge, with the England international yet to agree terms on a new deal at the Premier League champions.
Lukaku is currently in talks over a return to Inter Milan
Any move however hinges on the future of Lukaku, who is expected to return to Inter Milan after agreeing with Tuchel and Chelsea's new owners that a move away would be the best solution after a disappointing first season back in west London.
The Blues want Inter to pay a fee of around £20m and the majority, but preferably all, of the Belgian forward's £300,000 a week wage to send him back to Italy on loan.
Inter are not so keen to pay that much and have proposed a loan fee of £7m while Lukaku himself is also said to be prepared to take a significant wage cut in order to allow the move to be sanctioned.
Despite making 48 appearances, Sterling has struggled to be a regular starter at City
If a deal is agreed, it will allow the Blues to step up their pursuit of Sterling with new owner Todd Boehly expected to be the driving force in the negotiations.
Sterling recently won the Premier League title yet again at City, making 47 appearances in all competitions and scoring 17 goals last season.
But the 27-year-old has found it hard at times to be a regular starter under Pep Guardiola and has one year left on his contract, meaning City could be open to selling him to avoid losing him on a free though.
City wouldn't let him leave on the cheap though, with the reigning champions expected to command a fee in the region of £50-60m to sell him.
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