Palmer departure, Madueke curiosity, Sterling reality: Chelsea announces next transfer move following £54 million agreement

Chelsea may need to send players on as they near a spectacular deal for Pedro Neto.

Pedro Neto, a winger for Wolverhampton Wanderers, is getting closer to joining Chelsea after the two teams came to an agreement on a contract.

According to football.london, the Blues are now anticipated to finalize a deal for Neto, having reached an agreement with Wolves for a cost of £51.4 million plus £2.6 million in add-ons.

Although the 24-year-old is capable of playing on either wing, Wolves has mostly used him on the right side. After Tosin Adarabioyo, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Filip Jorgensen, Omari Kellyman, Aaron Anselmino, Renato Veiga, Caleb Wiley and Marc Guiu, and Estevao Willian—who won’t join until 2025—made the transfer to the Blues, Neto is anticipated to become their ninth signing of the summer.

Chelsea will now have a limited number of alternatives in offensive midfield and their summer expenditure might go up to £162 million.

Cole Palmer, Christopher Nkunku, Noni Madueke, Raheem Sterling, and Mykhailo Mudryk are already contenders for spots for the Blues; Willian, an intriguing youth, will join them the following summer.

Therefore, in order to guarantee that as many players as possible are satisfied with the quantity of game time available, the Blues could need to let go of one of those players.

Although Neto’s arrival is undoubtedly intriguing, it raises the question of whether Chelsea must give up another attacking midfield option in order to create room for the Portugal international.

Cole Palmer, who led the team in goals scored the previous season, will play infield this year as the number ten. There may be renewed interest in Noni Madueke if Neto is deployed as a right-winger.

The England under-21 international has been linked to Newcastle United, who are looking for a new right winger. Chelsea might consider accepting a bid if that interest turns into one.

Raheem Sterling, at 29, is the oldest option available to the club. With three years left on his present deal, the Blues may decide to try to cash in on the England international immediately.

Sterling is probably a more marketable asset than Mykhailo Mudryk, for whom Chelsea would find it difficult to create interest to recoup the £62 million they paid to sign the Ukraine international in January 2023. Sterling drew interest from Saudi Pro League clubs earlier this summer.

Madueke or Sterling would likely turn out to be Chelsea’s best options if they decide to sell a player in order to make up the difference.