Football
Exclusive: Bournemouth Mulling Over Move For Unsettled Chelsea Star Raheem Sterling
AFC Bournemouth are considering offering Raheem Sterling an escape route from Chelsea, with Antoine Semenyo likely to leave. Sterling, not in Chelsea's plans, is seen as a quality option for Bournemouth to fill the attacking midfielder or winger position. Despite interest from Crystal Palace, Bournemouth's strong relationship with Chelsea could facilitate negotiations for a loan deal. Semenyo's potential departure has made Sterling a target for Bournemouth.
Chelsea FC v Fulham FC - Premier League by Mike Hewitt | Getty Images
AFC Bournemouth are mulling over the idea of offering Raheem Sterling an escape route out of Chelsea if, as expected, Antoine Semenyo joins one of their Premier League rivals during the January transfer window, SportsBoom can exclusively reveal.
Manchester City are in pole position to sign the Ghana international after Chelsea, the club he is believed to support, pulled out of the race to prise him away from The Vitality Stadium.
If he does join Pep Guardiola’s side, that would create a vacancy for an attacking midfielder or winger within Andoni Iraola’s squad.
And, according to our sources, Sterling features on a list of possible candidates with both the quality and credentials capable of filling that void.
Capped 82 times by England, the 31-year-old has not featured for The Blues this term after being told he has no future under Italian head coach Enzo Maresca.
Despite that, he is continuing to stay fit at their training base near Cobham, Surrey in the hope that he is offered suitable employment elsewhere.
After rejecting several moves abroad, Sterling has made it plain that he wants to remain close to his family in the south-east which, coupled with Chelsea’s desire to offload at least some of his wages from their balance sheet, has convinced Iraola’s employers that they would prove an attractive destination for him should they decide to firm up their interest.
Leeds United and Crystal Palace have also been linked with Sterling recently, with a move to either club still a possibility.
PROVEN CALIBRE
Having also represented the likes of Liverpool, Manchester City and Arsenal, Sterling’s calibre would make him a popular addition to The Cherries squad, although Crystal Palace are also believed to be keeping a watching brief on his situation in west London.
However, Bournemouth’s hierarchy are known to boast an excellent relationship with their counterparts at Stamford Bridge which could smooth the negotiation process if they attempt to open talks.
Although Iraola’s employers would only consider a loan deal for Sterling, his possible arrival would buy them time to consider more permanent options when the market reopens this summer.
Semenyo, aged 25, has emerged as one of the most sought after talents in English football after excelling for The Cherries following a £10m switch from Bristol City - scoring nine goals in his last 17 league appearances.
Neil has been a journalist for longer than he'd care to remember, having written for national newspapers and respected publications for over 25 years. For the last three years he has worked freelance for BBC Sport, working on the production desk as a sub-editor and also as a writer, covering a whole range of sports.