Chelsea’s stance on Raheem Sterling returning to first team after deadline day disaster

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Chelsea have a decision to make with Raheem Sterling between now and the next transfer window.

Sterling had a deadline day to forget, failing to secure a move away from Stamford Bridge.

The winger is not in Enzo Maresca‘s plans and is now stranded at Chelsea, unless he decides to move to Turkey or Saudi Arabia, where the transfer market remains open.

Fulham were interested in Sterling, but that interest did not amount to anything in the end.

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Raheem Sterling unlikely to return to Chelsea first team

Last season, Ben Chilwell was frozen out of Chelsea’s squad but was reintegrated into it after failing to find a move away from Stamford Bridge.

It does not look like Sterling will be getting that kind of treatment, though.

According to the Evening Standard, it is unlikely that the England international will return to Maresca’s main group.

Instead, the outlet says Sterling will continue to train with Chelsea’s “bomb squad”, with Axel Disasi also currently there.

Like Sterling, the defender also had Premier League interest in the summer transfer window but ended up staying at Chelsea.

It has been claimed that while Disasi did have suitors from England, the 27-year-old did not fancy joining any of them.

How much money Chelsea are still paying Raheem Sterling

One reason why Chelsea are so desperate to get rid of Sterling is because he is on such huge money.

It is thought that Sterling is earning £325,000 a week at Chelsea, making him the highest-paid player on their books and by some distance.

That is an incredible amount of money, especially for an individual who is not even being used. At this rate, it would not be a shock if Sterling decided to see out his contract.

That would be disappointing, though. The former Manchester City and Liverpool man is 30, not 40. He should still be playing first-team games right now, instead he is rotting away somewhere at Cobham.