Leeds are expected to do business in the winter transfer window, but money is tight.
Graham Smyth believes the 49ers are likely to focus on the loan market in January, after Robbie Evans revealed in September that Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) were limiting Leeds.
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“This summer, we spent everything we could. Unequivocally, we are maxing PSR out this season. If we had gone on to other targets [on deadline day], the consequences would have been seen in the current roster. More key players from last season would have had to go.”
Robbie Evans on Leeds United’s PSR position
However – according to Caught Offside – Leeds could sign a £50m player for nothing in Raheem Sterling as Chelsea consider terminating his contract.
Chelsea might make Raheem Sterling a free agent as Leeds United lurk
Caught Offside state that the England international is proving to be a financial burden for Chelsea at the moment, with the Blues still paying his £325,000-a-week salary despite Enzo Maresca banishing the forward.
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It is said that Chelsea are therefore open to various ways to offload Sterling, and are even willing to pay the 31-year-old off by terminating his contract if a loan deal or permanent move fails to materialise in January.
It means Leeds could land the man born in Kingston for free, which would be quite the coup considering Chelsea paid £50m to sign him from Manchester City in July 2022, and also given the fact he can boast 123 Premier League goals in 396 appearances.
Caught Offside add that Crystal Palace are also interested, however, which poses a potential issue for Leeds seeing as the Eagles currently sit fourth and can offer Sterling UEFA Conference League football.
The 49ers are already believed to be looking at one free agent, as Leeds consider Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. The England international has been without a club since departing Besiktas in August.
What Leeds United think Raheem Sterling can offer at Elland Road
The report adds what Leeds think of Sterling – who Marcelo Bielsa once praised – as the 49ers prepare for the winter transfer window to open.
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It is said that Leeds feel the Chelsea outcast can ‘inject pace, creativity, and top-flight experience into their attack’ if he moves to Yorkshire, and would be considered a marquee signing at Elland Road.
Caught Offside add that Sterling has admirers overseas as well.
However, that shouldn’t be a problem for Leeds, as the attacker is understood to want to stay in England for family reasons with his son currently playing in the youth ranks at Arsenal.
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