Man United's surprising move for Raheem Sterling: What’s the catch?

Manchester United have reportedly made an offer to bring Raheem Sterling to Old Trafford.

The England winger, who has been sidelined at Chelsea, could be on the move before the transfer window closes on Friday.

Sterling has faced a tough start to the season under new Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca. Dropped from the squad for the Premier League opener and losing his squad number to new signing Pedro Neto, the 29-year-old is now considering his options.

Maresca has made it clear that Sterling “won’t get any minutes” if he stays at Stamford Bridge, pushing the winger to find a new club quickly.

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United's offer and Sterling's role

Manchester United, eager to strengthen their squad after a disappointing eighth-place finish last season, have reportedly offered Sterling a £150,000-per-week deal.

This is a significant drop from his current £325,000 weekly wage at Chelsea. If the deal goes through, Sterling would primarily serve as a backup to Marcus Rashford on the left wing or as a false nine.

However, United’s move for Sterling may depend on Jadon Sancho’s departure, with Juventus showing interest in the former Borussia Dortmund star.

The potential deal raises some eyebrows, especially with United’s spending already nearing £200 million ($263m) this summer, including a possible move for Manuel Ugarte.

At 29, Sterling doesn’t exactly fit the profile of players United have been targeting, and taking a massive pay cut might require a settlement with Chelsea. Still, the possibility of Sterling in a United shirt adds an intriguing twist to the final days of the transfer window.