MANCHESTER UNITED have reportedly opened talks to sign Raheem Sterling from Chelsea.
The winger has been cast out of the Blues squad by Enzo Maresca, with the manager preferring other players.
Sterling, 29, was then quickly linked with an exit from Stamford Bridge to find more game time.
The Athletic have now claimed that Manchester United have opened talks with Chelsea over a deal.
Reports claim that the clubs could include a swap deal that would see Jadon Sancho move to Chelsea.
It is said that Sancho will be allowed to leave Old Trafford with Juventus also interested in his services.
However, for Chelsea to make a move, Sterling would need to be heading the other way.
Sterling has previously admitted that he was a “massive” fan of the Red Devils when he was a child.
In 2019, while he was at Manchester City, he said: “I shouldn’t really say this – not now, definitely not now! – but when I was young I was a massive United fan.
“I had an old United kit, from when they won the last FA Cup. I was at the final in 2007.
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“If two or three of the kids could be inspired, then that’s all I was trying to do. Purely, that’s how I felt at the time.
“If there was a kid who had a chance of being a footballer, hopefully that will give them motivation or inspiration to change their dreams.”
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Chelsea have reportedly made a sensational move to sign Brentford striker Ivan Toney.
Liverpool are also eyeing a cut-price deal for Juventus outcast Federico Chiesa.
Meanwhile, Saudi club Al Ahli have submitted an initial bid of £55million to Napoli for Chelsea target Victor Osimhen.
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Sterling has also had interest from Crystal Palace and Aston Villa, however he will not put in a transfer request to force a move.
The winger is on a staggering £325,000-per-week at Chelsea, which could prove to be a stumbling block in a potential exit.
Sancho’s weekly wages of £300,000 are also high and may need to be reduced to fit into the Chelsea wage structure.
Sterling only joined Chelsea in 2022 and has three years left on his contract.
Sterling has previously played for United’s fierce rivals Liverpool and City.
He went on to make 129 appearances for the Reds before leaving for City in 2015.
During seven years at the Etihad Stadium, he won 12 trophies, including four league titles.
Sterling has yet to score in 26 matches against United, though.
Sancho joined United in 2021 from Borussia Dortmund but has struggled to find his best form in England.
Last season he fell out with manager Erik ten Hag and was sent back on loan to the Bundesliga side for the second half of the season.
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