How Chelsea will line up with Raheem Sterling

Chelsea is in talks with Manchester City to sign Raheem Sterling in a move that may be worth over €40 million.

Sterling's deal at the Etihad expires in the summer of 2023, therefore City must sell him this summer or risk losing him for nothing in a year.

Chelsea are set to have a very busy summer transfer window, with numerous players leaving and likely to arrive under Todd Boehly’s new ownership.

              Chelsea XI with Dembele

Edouard Mendy will continue in goal as Chelsea attempt to offload expensive flop Kepa Arrizabalaga.

Thomas Tuchel will likely continue with a back three, but there will be something of a revolution in terms of personnel. Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen are both leaving this summer on free transfers to Real Madrid and Barcelona, respectively.

Assuming Cesar Azpilicueta doesn’t follow these two out of the door, he will start at right centre back with timeless veteran Thiago Silva in the middle of the back three.

Chelsea will sign two at least two new centre-backs, with Sevilla’s Jules Kounde favourite to be the first defender through the door.

In the centre of midfield, the only guarantee right now is Mateo Kovacic. N’Golo Kante and Jorginho are now in their thirties and see their deals expire in 2023, so it is possible one of these could be sold. It is also possible a top central midfielder could be signed.

As for the attack, Mason Mount (despite his own contract stalemate) will join Sterling in supporting the lone striker.

That lone striker won’t be Romelu Lukaku, who will return to Inter Milan on loan. That means Kai Havertz will continue as an unorthodox number 9 for now, although there is a chance Chelsea could sign a new starting striker