---
title: "Manchester City: Serge Gnabry identified as Sterling replacement"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/manchester-city-serge-gnabry-bayern-munich-raheem-sterling-chelsea-transfer-news/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Will Seager"
section: "Manchester City News"
published: "2022-07-03T17:40:25Z"
modified: "2022-07-03T17:40:25Z"
---

# Manchester City: Serge Gnabry identified as Sterling replacement

**[Manchester City](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/manchester-city-news/) have identified Bayern Munich winger Serge Gnabry as a direct replacement for Raheem Sterling, should the latter leave the [Premier League](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/premier-league-news/) champions this summer, according to reports shared by [City Xtra](https://www.sportbible.com/city-xtra/serge-gnabry-bayern-munich-manchester-city-raheem-sterling-chelsea-20220702).**

### **The Lowdown: Sterling linked with exit**

The England international has been at the centre of strong links away from the Etihad Stadium, with a move to Chelsea [heavily speculated](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-10974807/Chelsea-Manchester-City-nearing-agreement-Raheem-Sterling.html).

With the World Cup at the end of the year approaching all the time, the 27-year-old has indicated his [willingness to leave](https://www.sportbible.com/city-xtra/serge-gnabry-bayern-munich-manchester-city-raheem-sterling-chelsea-20220702) Manchester, with game-time crucial in the build-up to the tournament.

Having entered the [last 12 months](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/raheem-sterling/profil/spieler/134425) of his City contract, the attacker is expected to command a fee in the region of [£45m](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-10974807/Chelsea-Manchester-City-nearing-agreement-Raheem-Sterling.html).

### **The Latest: Gnabry to Man City?**

As per reports shared by [City Xtra](https://www.sportbible.com/city-xtra/serge-gnabry-bayern-munich-manchester-city-raheem-sterling-chelsea-20220702), Gnabry will rise to the top of Pep Guardiola’s summer wish list, should Sterling complete his proposed move to Chelsea.

The Germany international has also entered the [last 12 months](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/serge-gnabry/profil/spieler/159471) of his current contract and is reportedly reluctant to sign a new deal keeping him at the Allianz Arena.

As a result, it has been suggested that Bayern would be willing to cash in on the 26-year-old for [around £40m](https://www.sportbible.com/city-xtra/serge-gnabry-bayern-munich-manchester-city-raheem-sterling-chelsea-20220702).

\[freshpress-quiz id=”397988″\]

### **The Verdict: Great replacement**

Replacing Sterling would not be an easy feat for City, given his haul of [131 goals](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/raheem-sterling/leistungsdatenverein/spieler/134425) for the club, but as far as replacements go, they won’t get much better than Gnabry.

The German has been described as a ‘world class’ player by Rio Ferdinand and an ‘unbelievable finisher’ by Owen Hargreaves in the past (via [Daily Mail](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-8644943/Rio-Ferdinand-heaps-praise-world-class-Serge-Gnabry-brace-fired-Bayern-Munich-final.html)).

\[freshpress-poll id=”398799″\]

When looking at the two wingers’ statistics, the comparisons are also remarkably similar. Compared with positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year, Sterling ranks in the [92nd percentile](https://fbref.com/en/players/b400bde0/Raheem-Sterling) for non-penalty goals, whereas Gnabry comes in even higher in the [97th percentile](https://fbref.com/en/players/88e357ef/Serge-Gnabry).

Furthermore, the [England international](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/raheem-sterling/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/134425) and [Bayern Munich star](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/serge-gnabry/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/159471) both netted 17 goals in 45 appearances in all competitions last season

This helps to illustrate how good a replacement Gnabry would be for City if Sterling leaves the Etihad.