RAHEEM Sterling could be offered a Chelsea escape route by Napoli.
But the Italian champions, who already have former Premier League stars Scott McTominay and Billy Gilmour on their books, want a loan deal for Sterling on similar terms to Arsenal last season.
Chelsea are desperate to find a permanent home for the ex-England manGetty
And Chelsea have made it clear that they want to find a permanent move for the former England international.
Juventus and Bayer Leverkusen are also interested in Sterling, 30, who has two years left on his £325,000-per-week contract with the Blues.
Chelsea paid a significant proportion of the ex Manchester City winger’s wages after he joined Arsenal in a last-minute deal last summer.
There may have to be compromise on all sides if Sterling is to relaunch his career away from Stamford Bridge again this year..
Napoli have turned their attention to Sterling after being frustrated in their efforts to sign winger Dan Ndoye from Bologna.
Ndoye is also a target for Nottingham Forest and Napoli are losing patience with their Serie A rivals.
Napoli offer Sterling a great example of how a new start abroad can work for Premier League stars.
Former Manchester United midfielder McTominay in particular has reinvented himself as a hero in Naples after playing a key role in last season’s success.
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Meanwhile, in another frantic summer of coming and goings at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea are locked in talks with Ajax over teenage defender Jorrel Hato.
The Blues are thought to have indicated they are prepared to pay around £35m for Hato, 19.
But Ajax say they want £50m, and former player Danny Blind, who is in his second stint on the club’s supervisory board, has a history of playing hardball.
Back in 2022, Blind negotiated a deal with Manchester United for Ajax defender Lisandro Martinez which saw United pay an initial fee of £48.3m, rising to £56.7m.
Chelsea are said to be moving closer to a deal for RB Leipzig playmaker Xavi Simons.
The Blues are yet to make a formal bid and Leipzig are said to be sticking to their £60m valuation of the Dutch international.
But there is increasing confidence at Chelsea that a compromise will be reached and Simons will be added to the club’s formidable array of attacking talent.
