Chelsea target Raheem Sterling wanted Liverpool return this summer

Chelsea target Raheem Sterling initially wanted a return to Liverpool this summer, only to have his enquiry knocked back.

Sterling is set to leave Manchester City this summer, with the winger said to be concerned about his position within Pep Guardiola’s squad. Though the Englishman made 30 Premier League appearances, he was left on the bench for both legs of their Champions League semi-final defeat to Real Madrid.

And, it seems as though Chelsea are leading the way for the 27-year-old should Sterling decide to seek pastures new, with the Blues keen to strengthen their frontline and able to offer Champions League football as well as a prominent first team role following the departure of Romelu Lukaku.

However, as per Football Transfers, it was Liverpool, not the Blues, that were Sterling’s first choice.

‘The England winger did try to push for a move back to Liverpool and even went so far as to enquire about the possibility. However, this was knocked back’, they report.

Raheem Sterling rose through the ranks at Liverpool before earning a £50m move to Manchester City in 2015 (Credit: MI News)

Such a signing would likely have broken the wage structure set at Liverpool, even if Jurgen Klopp had wanted the player, while at 27 years old he does not fit the youthful regeneration of the squad that the Reds seem to have targeted this summer.

Liverpool instead made a move for Darwin Nunez, who cost the same amount that Sterling would likely have set them back. There is also the question of whether City would entertain the notion of strengthening a side that nearly pipped them to the Premier League title on the final day of the season.

Sterling to Chelsea?

A move to Chelsea seems to be the most likely outcome this summer for Sterling, who wants his future sorted in the next fortnight.

However, the Blues will have to be prepared to spend big, with the Englishman set to cost them between 55m and 60m euros, according to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano.

Raheem Sterling, Chelsea top target as reported last Tuesday. Man City want around €55/60m – approach for €25m & add-ons turned down. ?? #CFC

Chelsea will be back with new bid soon – as Man City are open to let him go.

Man City want €100/110m from Gabriel Jesus & Sterling. pic.twitter.com/e5Z4LzjkRj

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 19, 2022

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Premier League table

#	Team	MP	D	P
1	AFC Bournemouth	0	0	0
2	Arsenal FC	0	0	0
3	Aston Villa	0	0	0
4	Brentford FC	0	0	0
5	Brighton & Hove Albion	0	0	0
6	Chelsea FC	0	0	0
7	Crystal Palace	0	0	0
8	Everton FC	0	0	0
9	Fulham FC	0	0	0
10	Leeds United	0	0	0
11	Leicester City	0	0	0
12	Liverpool FC	0	0	0
13	Manchester City	0	0	0
14	Manchester United	0	0	0
15	Newcastle United	0	0	0
16	Nottingham Forest	0	0	0
17	Southampton FC	0	0	0
18	Tottenham Hotspur	0	0	0
19	West Ham United	0	0	0
20	Wolverhampton Wanderers	0	0	0

Player	Team	Goals
Salah, Mohamed	Liverpool FC	23
Son, Heung Min	Tottenham Hotspur	23
Ronaldo, Cristiano	Manchester United	18
Kane, Harry	Tottenham Hotspur	17
Mane, Sadio	Liverpool FC	16
De Bruyne, Kevin	Manchester City	15
Jota, Diogo	Liverpool FC	15
Vardy, Jamie	Leicester City	15
Zaha, Wilfried	Crystal Palace	14
Sterling, Raheem	Manchester City	13
Bowen, Jarrod	West Ham United	12
Maddison, James	Leicester City	12
Toney, Ivan	Brentford FC	12
Mount, Mason	Chelsea FC	11
Saka, Bukayo	Arsenal FC	11
Mahrez, Riyad	Manchester City	11
Richarlison	Everton FC	11
Pukki, Teemu	Norwich City	11
Raphinha	Leeds United	11
Watkins, Ollie	Aston Villa	11

Player	Team	Red Cards	Yellow Cards
Mings, Tyrone	Aston Villa	0	11
Xhaka, Granit	Arsenal FC	1	10
Tarkowski, James	Burnley FC	0	11
Firpo, Junior	Leeds United	0	11
Fernandes, Bruno	Manchester United	0	10
Gallagher, Conor	Crystal Palace	0	10
Brownhill, Josh	Burnley FC	0	10
Bednarek, Jan	Southampton FC	0	10
Bissouma, Yves	Brighton & Hove Albion	0	10
Moreno, Rodrigo	Leeds United	0	9
Neves, Ruben	Wolverhampton Wanderers	0	9
Romeu, Oriol	Southampton FC	0	9
Rudiger, Antonio	Chelsea FC	0	9
Mctominay, Scott	Manchester United	0	9
Salisu, Mohammed	Southampton FC	0	8
Ronaldo, Cristiano	Manchester United	0	8
Toney, Ivan	Brentford FC	0	8
Dennis, Emmanuel	Watford FC	0	7
Richarlison	Everton FC	0	8
Pogba, Paul	Manchester United	1	7

Player	Team	Assists
Salah, Mohamed	Liverpool FC	13
Alexander-Arnold, Trent	Liverpool FC	12
Barnes, Harvey	Leicester City	11
Kane, Harry	Tottenham Hotspur	10
Bowen, Jarrod	West Ham United	10
Mount, Mason	Chelsea FC	10
Robertson, Andy	Liverpool FC	10
Maddison, James	Leicester City	9
James, Reece	Chelsea FC	9
Pogba, Paul	Manchester United	9
Cancelo, Joao	Manchester City	9
De Bruyne, Kevin	Manchester City	8
Jesus, Gabriel	Manchester City	8
Kulusevski, Dejan	Tottenham Hotspur	8
Son, Heung Min	Tottenham Hotspur	7
Saka, Bukayo	Arsenal FC	7
Antonio, Michail	West Ham United	7
Lacazette, Alexandre	Arsenal FC	7
Mbeumo, Bryan	Brentford FC	7
Fernandes, Bruno	Manchester United	6