Raheem Sterling, currently out of favor at Chelsea, is reportedly eyeing a move to Manchester United, the team he has long admired. The English forward, whose current contract with Chelsea runs for another three years, is eager to make the switch despite his ongoing commitment to the club.

Chelsea is exploring the possibility of exchanging Sterling for Jadon Sancho, but Manchester United has yet to agree to this deal. Chelsea’s new manager, Enzo Maresca, has indicated that Sterling is not part of the club’s plans for the upcoming season. As the transfer window nears its close on August 30, Sterling is actively discussing his departure with Chelsea. His primary goal is to remain in England, with Manchester United as his preferred destination. Sterling, who has openly expressed his admiration for Manchester United, even owning a jersey from their 2016 FA Cup win while at Manchester City in 2019, sees this move as a long-held dream.

At 30 years old, Sterling began his professional career at Liverpool, making his mark from a young age. He joined Manchester City in 2015 and moved to Chelsea seven years later. Sterling’s history with Liverpool and Manchester City, both of which are historic rivals of Manchester United, adds a layer of intrigue to his potential move.

Despite few clubs being able to match Sterling’s current wages of $396,000 per week at Chelsea—totaling approximately $17 million annually—he is willing to accept a significant pay cut, around $4 to $5 million less per year, to facilitate the move. Manchester United’s highest-paid players are Casemiro and Marcus Rashford, earning $462,000 per week, while Sancho’s salary stands at $330,000.

Manchester United is also looking to offload Sancho, who no longer fits into manager Erik ten Hag’s plans. The club has been prioritizing the sale of the 24-year-old forward and has turned down a proposed swap with Chelsea’s left-back Ben Chilwell. However, the possibility of a swap involving Sterling is still on the table. Juventus is another club interested in Sancho as a potential replacement for Federico Chiesa.

To fund the acquisition of defensive midfielder Manuel Ugarte from PSG, Manchester United is working to offload additional players such as Scott McTominay and Hannibal Mejbri. McTominay is set to join Napoli for $34 million, and Mejbri is currently undergoing a medical with Burnley. PSG has demanded $67 million for Ugarte, but Manchester United has negotiated for a lower price. As the transfer deadline approaches, both Manchester United and Chelsea are expected to remain active in the market.