Chelsea Football Club is reportedly considering a significant move in the upcoming summer transfer window. The Blues are contemplating offloading Raheem Sterling and bringing in 21-year-old Athletic Club winger Nico Williams. This potential move comes as part of the club's strategy to make quality additions to their squad after an unusually quiet January transfer window.
The change in Chelsea's management has been instrumental in shaping this new direction. Todd Boehly and the Clearlake Group took over the running of Chelsea in 2022, with their first signing ahead of the 2022-23 season being Sterling, formerly from Manchester City.
Sterling joined Chelsea for a hefty sum of around £50 million. While spending such an amount on a world-class Premier League-proven player was not seen as problematic at that time, his inconsistent performance has raised eyebrows.
Sterling’s performance has been inconsistent since the beginning
Since joining Chelsea, Sterling has failed to deliver consistently. According to transfer expert Dean Jones, this inconsistency has led the club to seriously consider selling him during the summer transfer window.
Despite receiving inquiries from Saudi Pro League clubs last summer for Sterling’s services, he showed no interest in making a move then. However, recent reports suggest that he might be prepared now for an exit from Stamford Bridge after scoring only 17 goals across his 71 appearances for The Blues.
Nico Williams is on Chelsea’s wishlist to replace Sterling
As they plan on offloading Raheem Sterling, Chelsea is eyeing Spain international Nico Williams as his potential replacement. The young Athletic Club star is highly regarded across Europe due to his impressive performances with Basque club.
Williams recently extended his contract with Athletic Club but still holds a release clause worth around £43 million - an appealing figure for Premier League clubs scouting him extensively.
Nico Williams boasts six goals and eleven assists across just twenty-seven appearances for his club this season, a promising return for the young forward. His performance has not only caught Chelsea's attention but also that of Barcelona and Real Madrid.
Chelsea's potential move to offload Sterling and bring in Williams could be a strategic decision aimed at enhancing their squad quality. However, it remains to be seen how these changes will impact the team's performance in the upcoming seasons.
