Aston Villa legend Gabriel Agbonlahor has given his seal of approval for his former membership to pursue Chelsea ahead Raheem Sterling.
The 82-time England worldwide is trying to find a transfer away from Stamford Bridge this summer season following the latest arrivals of Joao Felix and Pedro Neto — with the latter taking Sterling’s No.7 shirt.
Sterling has been linked with various Premier League golf equipment over the course of the summer season, with Newcastle and Aston Villa probably the most outstanding names within the combine.
Italian giants Juventus have additionally been credited with a critical curiosity.
Sterling hasn’t made the squad for both of Chelsea’s video games thus far this season, towards Man Metropolis within the Premier League and Servette within the UEFA Convention League.
Agbonlahor provides inexperienced mild for Aston Villa’s Sterling pursuit
With the rumours linking Villa with a swoop for Sterling gathering tempo, former striker Agbonlahor — who scored 87 targets in 391 appearances for the membership between 2005 and 2018 — has sung the praises of the ahead, who he would like to see play beneath Unai Emery.
“I simply suppose, ‘why not?’” he informed talkSPORT. “, Raheem Sterling is 29. We’re not speaking about somebody of their mid-thirties. At the beginning of final season, we had been all saying, how is he not being referred to as up by Gareth Southgate?’
“He was in such nice kind. Chelsea had been a shambles final season. Gamers weren’t given the video games to show themselves. It was a poor season for almost all of Chelsea gamers.
“So if it’s proper and the membership wish to do it, why wouldn’t Aston Villa followers be on aspect? As a result of he’s an impressive participant when he’s being coached proper by a high coach like Unai Emery – I’m certain he’ll get one of the best out of him.”
Agbonlahor believes Sterling might be notably priceless in Villa’s upcoming Champions League marketing campaign, with the 29-year-old a veteran of 83 video games at Europe’s high desk up to now, notching 27 targets and 17 assists alongside the best way.
“I believe it’s good to have competitors,” he continued. “Final season Ollie Watkins was fairly fortunate to not get any unhealthy damage. what soccer can do. Typically you will get a nasty damage out of someplace. You’ll want to have choices.
“And with [Jhon] Duran, he’s a participant that, sure, there’s been speak about how he can typically be a bit onerous work to handle and coach, however his expertise’s there to indicate.
“And he’s a participant that you just’re going to wish enjoying within the Champions League now as effectively, it’ll be onerous for gamers to play Tuesday or Wednesday and Saturday, week in, week out.
“You want that competitors for locations. And likewise [Morgan] Rogers is one which I actually like. He may play as a quantity 9 as effectively, if wanted, not simply off the left.
“There’s competitors for locations all throughout the sector now, however I simply suppose Aston Villa lacking out on [Joao] Felix – the participant that Unai Emery needed – means there’s funds accessible. [Alex] Moreno has left to go to Nottingham Forest.
“There’s funds accessible for Aston Villa to do some enterprise within the final week of the window, so I wouldn’t be shocked if the Sterling factor would possibly occur or another person is available in.”