It appears Chelsea wasn’t Raheem Sterling’s first choice when he decided to leave Manchester City last summer.

According to The Athletic, Sterling wanted to sign for Liverpool last summer but Jurgen Klopp didn’t want to sign the England international.

He was also interested in a move abroad, but a transfer did not materialise and it is said a transfer to Stamford Bridge was his only realistic option.

Sterling, 28, joined the Blues from Manchester City in a £50million deal last July. 

“There was a lot of talk about interest from the Spanish giants or Paris Saint-Germain, but this was never on the cards,” claims the report.

“He would have been open to a move back to previous club Liverpool, but that was a non-starter, too. Chelsea were his only option.”