Man Utd and Chelsea discuss a swap transfer involving Raheem Sterling and Sancho

MANCHESTER UNITED have reportedly opened talks to sign Raheem Sterling from Chelsea.

The winger has been cast out of the Blues squad by Enzo Maresca, with the manager preferring other players.

Sterling, 29, was then quickly linked with an exit from Stamford Bridge to find more game time.

The Athletic have now claimed that Manchester United have opened talks with Chelsea over a deal.

Reports claim that the clubs could include a swap deal that would see Jadon Sancho move to Chelsea.

It is said that Sancho will be allowed to leave Old Trafford with Juventus also interested in his services.

However, for Chelsea to make a move, Sterling would need to be heading the other way.

Sterling has previously admitted that he was a "massive" fan of the Red Devils when he was a child.

In 2019, while he was at Manchester City, he said: "I shouldn't really say this - not now, definitely not now! - but when I was young I was a massive United fan.

"I had an old United kit, from when they won the last FA Cup. I was at the final in 2007.

"If two or three of the kids could be inspired, then that's all I was trying to do. Purely, that's how I felt at the time.

"If there was a kid who had a chance of being a footballer, hopefully that will give them motivation or inspiration to change their dreams."