Football
Exclusive: Crystal Palace Consider Audacious Raheem Sterling Deal with Eze Future in Doubt
Crystal Palace is considering a loan move for Raheem Sterling if Eberechi Eze leaves. Chelsea is open to loaning rather than selling Sterling, with Palace showing interest. Fulham has also held talks, but Palace may have the financial edge. Sterling prefers to stay in the Premier League, potentially making Palace his preferred destination. Born in Jamaica, he has had success with Man City and England.
Arsenal FC v AFC Bournemouth - Premier League by Crystal Pix/MB Media | Getty Images
Crystal Palace will consider an audacious loan move for Raheem Sterling if Eberechi Eze leaves Selhurst Park before the end of the transfer window, SportsBoom understands.
The former England international has been told he can leave Stamford Bridge by manager Enzo Maresca, only three years after completing a £47.5m move from Manchester City.
And with The Blues’ hierarchy now considering loaning rather than selling some of the star names they have declared surplus to requirements, that has alerted Palace to the possibility of brokering what would be a stunning deal for Sterling despite strong interest from London rivals Fulham.
Although the former Liverpool and Queens Park Rangers forward boasts plenty of admirers on the continent, members of Sterling’s inner circle have declared he would prefer to remain in the Premier League despite struggling for both form and opportunities during a spell with Arsenal last term.
Chelsea would prefer a permanent sale, as they look to create enough room on their balance sheet to fulfil UEFA’s strict financial regulations and complete a swoop for Manchester United’s Alejandro Garnacho.
PRELIMINARY TALKS
Fulham have reportedly held preliminary talks with both Sterling’s representatives and Maresca’s employers to determine the kind of investment it would require to secure his services.
But if Palace sell Eze, who is among Tottenham Hotspur’s leading targets this summer, then they would have the financial resources to beat any bid from Craven Cottage.
With Sterling knowing that he would be almost certain to feature in Glasner’s starting eleven should Spurs get their man then that, coupled with the fact he lives only 30 miles from Palace’s training ground could make them his preferred destination, particularly given that they are competing in Europe next term.
Born in Kingston, Jamaica but raised in Neasden, Sterling has represented England more than 80 times since first making his international debut against Sweden in 2012.
He won four PL titles and one FA Cup whilst at City, before finishing as an EFL Cup runner-up with The Blues.
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.