Aston Villa are now eyeing up a shock move to sign a four-time Premier League title winner to replace winger Moussa Diaby this summer.
Aston Villa have been busy during this transfer window. The Villans have signed seven new players and let several depart, most notably Douglas Luiz and Moussa Diaby.
Luiz was an integral cog in Unai Emery’s midfield last term while record signing Diaby came under scrutiny at times, despite recording a respectable 10 goals and nine assists in all competitions.
Emery was told that he needed to source a replacement for the Frenchman, as currently, the only first-team winger that Villa have added to their squad is Jaden Philogene.
With a Champions League campaign on the horizon, it’s clear that the Spaniard wants to bolster his squad with further attacking talent, which explains why they’re now looking at a former Premier League title winner.
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Aston Villa want Chelsea winger Raheem Sterling to replace Moussa Diaby
Aston Villa’s top target this summer was Joao Felix, who Emery rates highly and wanted to lure to Villa Park.
It then emerged that Felix’s preferred destination was Chelsea as the Atletico Madrid forward seeks a return to the Premier League, after joining Stamford Bridge on loan two seasons ago.
Now, it appears the Villa boss is moving on from the 24-year-old and is instead turning his attention to Raheem Sterling, the winger who Enzo Maresca has no interest in using this season.
Sterling was left out of Sunday’s matchday squad as Chelsea lost 2-0 against Manchester City and now journalist Ben Jacobs reports that Villa are ‘monitoring’ the 29-year-old in the closing days of the transfer window.
Speaking on the London Is Blue podcast, Jacobs said: “It’s also true to my knowledge that if Sterling gets the right project presented to him, he would take a wage cut. So it’s not a given that the wages are going to stop Sterling from leaving. Then the last thing interestingly that I’ve heard, which surprised me, is that Aston Villa are monitoring the situation too.
“Now Villa have lost Diaby and they wanted Joao Felix remember. I’m not sure that it will gather legs at this point. It’s very formative and Chelsea haven’t had an approach. But just keep them at the back of your mind because Villa are going to be really busy in the closing days of the window.”
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Aston Villa should sign Sterling but only on one condition
Sterling’s track record in the top flight is questionable, with the Englishman boasting four Premier League titles to his name and over 100 league goals in the competition.
That was largely during his time at Manchester City, where the jet-heeled winger was one of the league’s best, as Pep Guardiola once labelled him as ‘exceptional’.
Once Sterling moved on from the Etihad in July 2022, the former Liverpool attacker was expected to flourish as one of the main wingers at Stamford Bridge but he’s failed to impress consistently.
A total of 19 goals and 12 assists in 81 appearances is still a respectable return, though, with the experienced forward capable of returning to his best form if captured by Emery.
However, that does depend on a variable touched on by Jacobs, who claims that Sterling is willing to take a pay cut to leave West London before the deadline.
With three years left to run on his current contract, where he earns an eye-watering £325k-a-week, the Chelsea winger would have to significantly lower his wages to realistically join Villa this summer.
If a move is made possible, though, he would be a quality option to have, as not only is he seasoned in the Premier League, but he’s also appeared 82 times in the Champions League, returning 27 goals and 17 assists.
