Raheem Sterling Makes Thomas Tuchel Request Amid Chelsea Transfer Links

Manchester City's Raheem Sterling has been discussing Chelsea and Thomas Tuchel ahead of a potential summer transfer to Stamford Bridge, according to reports.

Sterling is out of contract next summer and could look to leave Manchester for a cut-price deal, which has seen his future monitored by Chelsea and other European clubs.

Chelsea's interest has increased in recent days with the Blues reportedly prepared to make a move for the England international once they finalise a deal to send Romelu Lukaku back to Inter Milan.

Thomas Tuchel is a 'big fan' of the 27-year-old and they are claimed to be confident of sealing a transfer for the Manchester City star this summer.

A £35 million transfer fee has been touted, while a Man City source believes it would take nearer £60 million for Pep Guardiola's side to be convinced of letting Sterling depart for the capital.

Now The Athletic have backed up previous reports by stating Chelsea are 'growing in confidence' that they can seal a deal for Sterling.

Sterling has been claimed to be attracted to the proposal of a return to London if he were to leave Man City after joining from Liverpool back in 2015 for an initial £44 million.

And as per The Athletic's report, Sterling is doing his research ahead of a potential switch to Stamford Bridge.

He has been talking to people about what life is like at Chelsea and what Tuchel is like as a manager.

But with a high transfer fee, one Chelsea source believes the only stumbling block is the size of the free this summer.

Tuchel has been given £200 million to spend in the summer transfer window, but the signings are likely to be shrewd and not a case of Chelsea throwing cash around for the sake of it.

Co-controlling owner Todd Boehly is looking to go down the Liverpool model route while ensuring that no Financial Fair Play rules are broken.

He said earlier this month at a conference in Berlin, Germany: "Financial Fair Play is starting to get some teeth and that will limit ability to acquire players at any price. UEFA takes it seriously and will continue to take it seriously.

"(More teeth) means financial penalties and disqualification from sporting competitions."

Boehly added: "We think the global footprint of this sport is really undeveloped.

"There are four billion fans of European football. There are 170 million fans of NFL. The NFL generates $15 billion of media money every year. Global club football is a fraction of the NFL media money.

"If you look at the models that are very successful, Liverpool is a great model.

"Liverpool generates a couple of hundred million more revenue than Chelsea and they generate earnings, so I think there is an opportunity to compete."