The £50m winger sensation Newcastle United could break the bank to sign if key transfer domino falls

It’s hard to put a finger on exactly why Raheem Sterling is such an underrated player in English football. He’s won it all and is clearly an ultimate professional. Reports from Chelsea suggest he is the ultimate professional; he simply comes in, does his work, and gets on with things - even when he’s not involved in the starting eleven at the weekend.

Sterling is a member of the Premier League’s Club 100, and he’s a proven, consistent goal scorer who finds the back of the net wherever he’s played. Despite not being a striker, he continues to score everywhere he goes. Whether on the right or left side, Sterling has proven he can be just as lethal.

At Liverpool, he adapted his game to rotate within the lethal trio that included Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge. At Manchester City, people continued to doubt him, yet he scored a bucket full of goals and was a key foundation of the City team that smashed record after record.

Chelsea could be set to bring in Atletico Madrid’s versatile forward Joao Felix, as part of an ongoing transfer saga that has seen Conor Gallagher’s move to the Spanish capital stall, and Spanish striker Samu Omorodion move the other way collapse in dramatic fashion. Should the Blues go through with the deal to bring Felix, a former Blues loanee, back to Stamford Bridge, it has been suggested that could pave the way for Sterling’s exit - and that’s where Newcastle United could come into the equation.

Newcastle United are looking to sell Miguel Almirón, and you would imagine they’d be only to happy to land a next-level replacement who would relish the opportunity to be part of a project that is clearly going places. Almirón has been a loyal servant to Eddie Howe and, to be fair, he’s more than exceeded expectations, but Sterling would be the ideal signing as they look to return to Champions League football and compete for the league.

Sterling also provides an incredible work rate, often tracking back to help defensively. This aspect of his game is sometimes overlooked in favour of more flashy, offensive players, but it’s a crucial part of why he’s so valuable to any team he plays for. He has the pedigree to instil a winning mentality in a group that is clearly talented and hungry but has struggled consistently to maintain the high standards required to be a top-performing team in the Premier League.

The 29-year-old is also still eyeing a return to the England team following Gareth Southgate’s post-Euro 2024 exit, so there are things he’s clearly looking to achieve in his career despite having already accomplished so much. That kind of ambition is what champions are made of, and he would undoubtedly be an outstanding addition.

Then there’s the fact that Sterling is an underrated big-game player. He has a history of stepping up when the going gets tough, whether for Liverpool, Manchester City, or England. He’s done it time and again. Every team looking to go places needs a forward who has the knack for turning up when it matters most, and Sterling clearly has that ability.

Sterling has also developed a tough skin. He has faced intense scrutiny throughout his career, often labelled as extravagant when all he’s tried to do is be the best version of himself. Yet, this criticism has done little to stop him from excelling. If Chelsea go for Felix and decide that Sterling is the player to make way, Eddie Howe should definitely be on the phone to sign him this summer.