Aston Villa have already given the blessing of club legend Gabby Agbonlahor for the possible signing of Raheem Sterling.
The Chelsea winger has fallen out of favour at Stamford Bridge after being left out of the squad for the Premier League opener against his former club Manchester City.
6
And although he still has three years left on his contract with the Blues, Sterling is now on the verge of a transfer as Enzo Maresca has informed the player that he is no longer needed.
As The Pitch Prospect already reported, a possible transfer of the English international would be to the Midlands.
Villa have already contacted Chelsea regarding his availability, but there have been no direct discussions with Sterling yet.
The striker’s contract is worth £15 million a year, meaning the London club has an incentive to help find a solution.
However, with Sterling unwilling to move to Saudi Arabia, other Premier League teams are being considered – The Pitch Prospect has learned that Crystal Palace are another top team interested in the 29-year-old.
While neither Villa nor Palace will be able to compete with the salary Sterling currently receives at Stamford Bridge, may offer him Champions League football this season.
After an outstanding last season, this is the first return to the European top league in 42 years.
And for Agbonlahor – who made 391 appearances for Villa and is still their top scorer in Premier League history – the news of Sterling being linked with his boyhood club was a real delight and he described the idea as a great one.
“I just think, ‘Why not?'” he told The Pitch Prospect. “You know, Raheem Sterling is 29. We’re not talking about someone in his mid-thirties. At the start of last season we were all wondering why he wasn’t being called up by Gareth Southgate.”
“He was in such great form. Chelsea were a mess last season. The players didn’t get the games to prove themselves. It was a bad season for the majority of Chelsea players.”
6
6
“So if it’s the right thing to do and the club wants to do it, why shouldn’t Aston Villa fans be on his side? Because he’s an outstanding player when coached properly by a top coach like Unai Emery – I’m sure he’ll get the best out of him.”
And he believes it is not just Sterling who would benefit from the move, especially with the former Chelsea player keen to return to the England national team.
Agbonlahor pointed out that it was a transfer that would likely benefit Villa’s existing strikers, especially given the demands of European football.
Villa already have a number of attacking options, including the likes of England Euro 2024 star Ollie Watkins, Leon Bailey and new signings Jhon Duran and Ross Barkley – but Agbonlahor insisted another strong contender wouldn’t hurt.
“I think it’s good to have competition,” he said. “Last season, Ollie Watkins was pretty lucky not to get a bad injury. You know what football can do. Sometimes you can get a bad injury anywhere. You have to have options.”
“And with [Jhon] Duran is a player who, while there is talk that he can be a little difficult to manage and coach at times, his talent is clear to see.
“And he is a player that will now also be needed in the Champions League. It will be difficult for the players to play Tuesday or Wednesday and Saturday week after week.
6
“You need this competition for places. And also [Morgan] Rogers is someone I really like. He could play as a number nine if needed, not just on the left.
“There is competition for places all over the field now, but I think Aston Villa are missing out [Joao] Felix – the player Unai Emery wanted – means that financial resources are available. [Alex] Moreno has left to join Nottingham Forest.
“Aston Villa have funds available to do some business in the final week of the transfer window, so I wouldn’t be surprised if Sterling works out or someone else steps in.”
Sterling is one of numerous players who were left out of Chelsea’s plans for the coming season and have subsequently been linked with possible transfers.
This group also included academy graduate Conor Gallagher, who eventually moved to Atletico Madrid after a complicated saga with his youth club.
6
6
This has left Chelsea under intense scrutiny and criticism – and Agbonlahor is among those who have not taken a liking to the club’s actions of late.
“The treatment of these Chelsea players is disgraceful,” he said. “And they are becoming a club that other fan bases will soon no longer like.”
“The way they treat the players – yes, you can’t want a player, but to put them in the bomb disposal squad and say you can’t use the facilities you have, you can’t come into the canteen, you can’t do that, and treat them like dirt.
“I just don’t understand it. If I were Raheem Sterling, [Trevoh] Chalobah, [Romelu] Lukacs, [Ben] Chilwell, I say I will leave on my own terms. I will go on loan if the club I want to go to suits me.
“If you want me to leave permanently, you better get your chequebook out because I’m taking a large percentage of my salary that I’m entitled to – or I’m not leaving. It’s that simple. Because clubs do that. Clubs have done that with players.
“When I was at Aston Villa, all the clubs did that and it’s a disgrace. And that’s why I say there is no loyalty in football.”
“So fans – don’t say, ‘Oh, that player did that to try to leave and make a transfer request.’ Because if a club doesn’t want you, they’re going to treat you like absolute scum.”
BECOME PART OF THE DUGOUT
Have your say on all things The Pitch Prospect by joining The DUGOUT – our new listener panel.
We are all about understanding your perspectives and making sure The Pitch Prospect is the best it can be. Your voice is important and we want to hear it!
Contribute your groundbreaking ideas and participate in fun polls, polls and locker room discussions.
By signing up you will be entered into a prize draw to win one of four £50 Amazon vouchers. For each additional survey you complete you will be entered into another prize draw.
To participate in the panel “The DUGOUT”, Click here.