Besiktas' fans celebrate their 2016-2017 Turkish league champion title after the Turkish Spor Toto Super league football match between Besiktas and Osmanlispor near the Vodafone Park stadium on June 3, 2017 in Istanbul. / AFP PHOTO / YASIN AKGUL (Photo credit should read YASIN AKGUL/AFP/Getty Images)
Beşiktaş is reportedly engaged in advanced discussions to sign Chelsea’s English international winger Raheem Sterling, offering the seasoned attacker a fresh start away from the intense pressures of English football. According to Fichajes, the Turkish giants view Sterling as a significant potential acquisition for the Süper Lig.
Sterling’s career trajectory has seen a notable downturn since his high-profile transfer from Manchester City to Chelsea in the summer of 2022.
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His time in English football arguably reached a low point during a challenging loan spell at Arsenal last season, where he managed a solitary goal in a cup competition and contributed five assists across all competitions. It was widely understood that Mikel Arteta’s side had no intention of retaining him beyond the summer, necessitating his return to Chelsea.
Despite having two years remaining on his contract at Stamford Bridge, Sterling reportedly does not feature in new Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca’s plans.
Coupled with his substantial wages, which the London club is eager to offload, finding a suitable suitor has proven difficult. While Juventus was linked a few months ago, the likelihood of such a move materializing appears remote.
The most viable avenues for Sterling now seem to be clubs in Saudi Arabia or those outside Europe’s top five leagues, making Beşiktaş’s strong interest particularly relevant.
Beşiktaş President Serdar Adalı is reportedly personally spearheading the negotiations to bring the Chelsea attacking misfit to Istanbul.
Talks are understood to be in an advanced stage for the winger, who is seen as a marquee signing that could significantly boost the Turkish club’s profile and on-field performance. In a summer where rivals like Galatasaray have already secured Leroy Sané and Fenerbahçe are reportedly pursuing their own high-profile targets, Beşiktaş is keen to make equally impactful additions to remain competitive at the top of the Süper Lig.
While agreeing on a deal with Chelsea may prove relatively straightforward given the Blues’ desire to offload Sterling, the ultimate success of the transfer will hinge on Beşiktaş’s ability to convince Sterling about their club’s project and ambitions.
The winger will undoubtedly be observing the recent influx of high-profile stars to the Turkish league, such as Sané and Victor Osimhen, and will likely carry expectations of a financially rewarding move in addition to a sporting reset.