Liverpool and Chelsea are in talks about signing strikers from Manchester City. The two clubs have been struggling for goals this season, and Chelsea and City are both looking to improve their strike force. This is an interesting time to consider a transfer, and a young Mane might be just what City need to get back to winning ways. However, there are some key differences between Mane and Sterling that could make a big difference in the final decision.
Chelsea want to sign Manchester City striker Raheem Sterling
The Premier League club are reportedly keen on signing Manchester City striker Raheem Sterling. Sterling is close to completing a PS45million move to Stamford Bridge. The striker is one of many players linked with a move to the Blues this summer, including Neymar and Raphinha. Other players being linked with a move to the Blues include Kai Havertz and Raphinha. In addition, Chelsea are also interested in signing Manchester United striker Cesar Azpilicueta.
Sterling is said to have agreed personal terms with Chelsea and has completed a medical. Sterling is expected to cost between PS50m and PS60m. Chelsea are said to be interested in signing Robert Lewandowski from Bayern Munich, if a deal fails to materialise. Sterling has been linked with Barcelona and Real Madrid. If the deal between Manchester City and Chelsea goes through, Sterling could join the Blues and replace the injured Romelu Lukaku.
According to reports, Sterling has had talks with the Blues’ new manager Thomas Tuchel. The striker is currently on a pre-season tour of the United States. Chelsea hope to conclude a deal soon to sign Sterling. Sterling is a four-time Premier League winner and would bring a wealth of experience to the Blues’ attack. The news will be good for both parties, as he will be able to improve the quality of the team’s attack.
Liverpool want to sign Sadio Mane
The recent move for Sadio Mane by Bayern Munich has left a gap at the Reds and they are looking to replace him. It is not known what the fee will be, but it is reported that a deal has been reached between the two sides. In addition to the fee, Mane has also 100% accepted his personal terms for a three-year deal. Meanwhile, West Ham appear to have beaten Newcastle United to the signature of Nayef Aguerd. Aguerd has arrived in London to undergo a medical and finalize his personal terms.
If Mane were to leave Liverpool, then Sterling would be the logical replacement. The winger is a proven performer and would provide a boost to the Reds’ attacking line-up. It would also give the club another option in attack, with Mane being more expensive than Sterling. Meanwhile, Sterling has also been linked with Manchester City and Barcelona. But it seems that Sterling has decided to return to Liverpool after his spell at Manchester City ended in controversial circumstances.
The Liverpool star has recently revealed that he is excited about Bayern Munich. While the contract for Mane expires in 2023, he said he would consider his future elsewhere. This is not surprising, since the club has already made a lot of moves for Mane, including a deal with Bayern. Similarly, Bayern Munich is interested in Mane and he has been linked with many top clubs.
City are struggling to score goals this season
If you’re a Liverpool fan and wondering if Sadio Mane or Raheel Sterling are struggling to score this season, there’s a simple answer. Both have struggled to score goals this season, but who is more effective in the attack? The stats below show why. In terms of total touches, Mane has more touches than Sterling, but Sterling is more effective in crosses.
Amongst Liverpool’s top scorers, neither Sadio Mane nor Raheem Sterling have scored this season. Sadio Mane has 19 goals and two assists and has played in 42 games so far this season. But when compared to Salah’s 19 Premier League goals and seven assists, Mane is in the reds’ top five. But despite these comparatively poor numbers, Sterling has been a consistent threat for Liverpool over the last two seasons. His 15 goals in 27 games this season have led to speculation of a summer transfer to Real Madrid.
But both Mane and Sterling have shown that they are capable of playing in the Premier League. Sterling has a goalscoring streak of 18 league goals and 15 assists from last season to this, which is elite compared to Chelsea’s wide men. This has led to a tidal wave of failure at City, but Manchester City’s players haven’t given up on them.
Sterling is three years younger than Mane
Despite being three years younger, Sterling has already out-performed his Liverpool teammate. The Englishman has 18 goals in just three seasons and has the mentality to improve. Jurgen Klopp has even said that Sterling has “a remarkable mentality to improve.” Unlike his two older Liverpool teammates, Sterling has still got plenty of time to grow and prove his abilities. At 25 years old, Sterling is a great deal younger than Sadio Mane, who is already an established star at Anfield.
Chelsea are confident that Sterling can be signed before the transfer window closes. Sterling’s value has risen as Manchester City value him at around PS60m. Chelsea believe Sterling’s worth is closer to PS35m. The English champions will be able to match City’s valuation of Sterling, who has just one year left on his contract. However, the two sides will likely have to negotiate about the transfer fees.
Both players are still young. Man City signed Sterling from Liverpool in 2015 and he has been a star for the Citizens ever since. In three and a half seasons, Sterling has scored 131 Premier League goals and provided 70 assists. In 74 senior England appearances, Sterling has scored 19 goals. While Sterling has been on the bench at times this season, he played 28 minutes against Real Madrid in the Champions League. However, despite being three years younger than Mane, the two strikers are unlikely to be able to replace each other like for like.
Mane is a better defensive player
Both Sadio Mane and Raheem Sterling are world class attacking midfielders. But while Sterling has more assists, Mane’s success rate in final third passes is better. And he produces more important passes into the penalty area than Sterling, with 28 more than Sterling. It’s not just about numbers, though. You should also take into account Sterling’s inconsistency and drop in form in recent campaigns.
Liverpool fans love Sadio Mane, and the gnarly ex-pros love him. Jamie Carragher called Mane his favorite Liverpool player of the era and Robb Fowler marked his departure by sending a crying emoji to his followers. But how do we know Sadio Mane is better defensively than Raheem Sterling?
When comparing the two players’ statistics, it’s clear that Sadio Mane is a better defender. On average, he has three more clearances and four fewer interceptions than Sterling. And he scores three times more goals. However, there are some clear differences between the two players. Mane has played more games against Arsenal and Leicester than Sterling, while Sterling has more minutes to play with Liverpool.
During his time at Manchester City, Sterling has been a standout. Sterling has scored 131 goals in 339 games for Man City. And even when he’s been left out of Pep Guardiola’s starting XI, he has managed to remain prolific. And if Sterling does move to Liverpool, he will increase Liverpool’s homegrown quota.
Sterling is a better attacking player
If Manchester City were to sign a new striker, Sadio Mane would be the obvious choice. However, there is a better option at the Premier League level. The Briton has more attacking prowess, but he lacks the natural pace of Sadio Mane. Instead, Sterling offers a better balance between goals and assists and could be an upgrade over the Senegal international.
In the Premier League, Sterling averages a higher pass completion percentage than Mane, and he is far less likely to commit fouls. Both players have similar success rates in clearing their own goal. But Mane has more touches on the ball than Sterling. Sterling has an advantage in corner kicks, but Mane has a better passing range and a better shooting angle.
Although Sterling doesn’t break with the same pace as City’s top scorer, he is a far more dangerous striker and is capable of contributing in every phase of play. His inconsistent finishing has made him a flop in the past, but he is now a more consistent goal threat. And he has a more balanced game plan. He can also play as a narrower No 10 in Chelsea’s 3-4-5-1 system.
In comparison, Mane has far better passing and dribbling statistics, but Sterling has a better touch on the ball. He has also created more chances for teammates, and has the best predicted goals plus assists. Unfortunately, he hasn’t converted many of them. That’s why Sterling is the better attacking player. The City manager will want to build around Sterling and Haaland. If both players do not improve, Mane will probably remain the better choice, but if he does, Sterling will be a huge asset.
