All of the attention that should have been on Enzo Maresca and the Chelsea squad starting their Premier League campaign was instead centred around one player.
Raheem Sterling put himself at the forefront of attention after he was actually left out of the matchday squad to take on former side Manchester City.
His camp put out a statement before the game to suggest they were seeking clarity over his position at the squad, after he expected to be involved in some form in the competition.
Jamie Carragher was critical of Sterling for the timing and the decision to speak out, and supporters will no doubt have been frustrated there was something overshadowing their Premier League curtain-raiser.
Lineker has suggested that maybe the move was done in the face of transfer talk surrounding him, and as somewhat of a come and get me plea to other sides.
Lineker suggests Sterling may be looking for transfer
He said to The Rest is Football: “Do you think there’s an element of the fact that what’s there left, 10 days or two weeks of the transfer window that suddenly he sees that situation and he thinks, right, or his representatives think that, right, if we get a statement out there, people will know and therefore there might be some, it might get a bit of action in the transfer market, get people interested in him. We will take him at Leicester.”
Joao Felix signing could be the end of Sterling at Chelsea
It has been reported that the decision makers at the club are keen to move the attacker on, however his current wages make that difficult.
Since yesterday though, it has been reported the potential signing of Joao Felix could mean the end for Sterling at Stamford Bridge.
Whether another top club make a move for him either permanently or on loan remains to be seen, however if not it looks as if he faces an uphill battle to break back into the side that already has plenty of options available for them in his position.
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