Intriguing £6m Chelsea transfer claim made as Blues look to fix financial headache

Chelsea’s Raheem Sterling secured a last minute loan move to Arsenal on the final day of this summer’s transfer window, after he was told in no uncertain terms that he would not have a place in Enzo Maresca’s squad for the upcoming season.

The cost of the deal has now been speculated, with one football finance expert suggesting the Gunners are likely to be paying around £6 million for the ex-Manchester City star.

As reported by Football Insider, the financial expert Stefan Borson revealed that the Blues are taking the ‘damage limitation’ approach with Sterling after he was not set to part of Maresca’s plans at Stamford Bridge.

Sterling’s loan deal does not currently have an obligation to buy clause in it and, at the end of last month, it was reported that Mikel Arteta’s side are paying less than half of the 29-year-old’s rumoured £350,000-a-week wage, meaning Chelsea are paying more for their own player to compete for their London rivals.

However, it was evident that a move away from SW6 was crucial if the England winger was to enjoy playing first-team football this season.

In the latest reports, Borson has revealed that there will be only limited resale options for the Blues next summer after Sterling returns to Chelsea. Speaking to Football Insider, the financial expert said: “It’s one of those needs-must deals.”

“We understand he’s on over £300,000 a week and we know Chelsea will continue to pay the vast majority of that. A lot of the numbers that have been talked about are about £100,000 a week that is being paid by Arsenal.

“Overall, you are looking at Arsenal getting a player for maybe £6 million for a year and then handing him back to Chelsea as a player who is 30 and will be 31 in December 2025. Therefore, you would think there will be limited resale possibilities. It’s real damage limitation from Chelsea.”

As Sterling joined in such a late deal, he was unavailable for the Gunners’ 1-1 draw with Brighton but will look to get his first minutes in the red and white shirt on the board when the side play their first north London derby of the campaign on Saturday 15 September.