CRAZY DEAL: Manchester United reportedly initiate talks with Chelsea over a sensational transfer deal involving Raheem Sterling, with Jadon Sancho potentially moving in the opposite direction.

MANCHESTER UNITED have reportedly opened talks to sign Raheem Sterling from Chelsea.

The winger has been cast out of the Blues squad by Enzo Maresca, with the manager preferring other players.

Man United have opened talks to sign Raheem Sterling

The deal could see Jadon Sancho move to Chelsea

Sterling, 29, was then quickly linked with an exit from Stamford Bridge to find more game time.

The Athletic have now claimed that United have opened talks with Chelsea over a deal.

Reports claim that the clubs could include a swap deal that would see Jadon Sancho move to West London.

It is said that Sancho will be allowed to leave Old Trafford, with Juventus also interested in his services.

However, for Chelsea to make a move, Sterling would need to be heading the other way.

Sterling has previously admitted that he was a “massive” fan of the Red Devils when he was a child.

In 2019, while he was at Manchester City, he said: “I shouldn’t really say this – not now, definitely not now – but when I was young I was a massive United fan.

“I had an old United kit, from when they won the last FA Cup. I was at the final in 2007.”

Sterling has also had interest from Crystal Palace and Aston Villa, however he will not put in a transfer request to force a move.

The winger is on a staggering £325,000-per-week at Chelsea, which could prove to be a stumbling block in a potential exit.

Sancho’s weekly wages of £300,000 are also high and may need to be reduced to fit into the Chelsea wage structure.

Sterling only joined Chelsea in 2022 and has three years left on his contract.

He has previously played for United’s fierce rivals Liverpool and City.

He went on to make 129 appearances for the Reds before leaving for City in 2015.

He won 12 trophies in his seven years at Etihad Stadium, including four league crowns.

Despite this, Sterling has not scored in 26 games against United.

Sancho left Borussia Dortmund to join United in 2021, but he hasn’t been able to replicate his greatest performance in England.

He and manager Erik ten Hag had a falling out last season, and he spent the second half of the campaign back on loan at the Bundesliga team.