Chelsea Transfer News: Raheem Sterling Rumours Sparked by Roberto Firmino Deal

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho is "set to launch" a £40 million bid for Liverpool's Raheem Sterling after the Reds confirmed the capture of Hoffenheim star Roberto Firmino, subject to a medical.

Sterling's departure is an inevitability after he turned down a £100,000 contract to remain at Anfield. He doesn't want to be seen as a "money-grabbing 20-year-old," but as he told Natalie Pirks of BBC Sport, he wishes to challenge for trophies and regularly play in the Champions League.

According to Tuttomercatoweb (h/t Anthony Chapman of the Express), Chelsea will now make a "straight offer of £40 million" to wrap the Englishman's future up.

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Manchester City have already submitted a bid of £35 million plus £5 million in performance-based add-ons, according to Tony Barrett of the Times, but the Liverpool Echo (h/t Tom Sheen of the Independent) reports the club are waiting to receive an offer of £50 million.

Chapman claims "Liverpool could now be tempted to cash in" after agreeing a deal for Firmino, per Sky Sports:

Sterling would be an interesting prospect for Chelsea. He wouldn't dislodge PFA Player of the Year Eden Hazard from the left flank, and it would be difficult to fit him in along the front line. Perhaps Willian—who often carries out an important yet easy to overlook role down the right—would make way. Like the Brazilian, Sterling is a hard-worker and someone who can adapt to the challenge put in front of him.

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Rodgers has made this apparent over the last couple of seasons. Sterling has worked down either flank and even put in some deadly performances as a striker. This was most apparent during the 2013-14 season, in which he tore through the centre of Manchester United's defence during Liverpool's win at Old Trafford.

Mourinho is the type of manager who would ease Sterling in while focusing on making sure he performs the basic tasks well. Sterling has the potential to be a superstar or a major flop, according to B/R UK's Stan Collymore:

Although £40 million (or perhaps higher) appears mightily expensive right now, Sterling's next suitors will be landing one of the sport's most exciting talents. He needs to play regular football in order to improve, and although he's more likely to compete for silverware at Stamford Bridge, he'll be sacrificing the guarantee of responsibility to do so.

Mourinho may want to capture a huge name from a rival club after Chelsea agreed to sell Petr Cech to Arsenal, reported Sky Sports. Few would be more exciting than Sterling.