Sky Sports journalist Kaveh Solhekol has just provided an update on the future of Chelsea’s Raheem Sterling.
One of the biggest transfer sagas under the spotlight on Friday’s deadline day for the summer window involves Raheem Sterling.
Chelsea have exiled the 29-year-old attacker from their first-team squad this season, so will he be able to get a move out of Stamford Bridge in the final hours of the window to go and play senior football elsewhere?
The Independent recently claimed that Arsenal have weighed up a move for Sterling, but any transfer would need Chelsea settling part of his contract and wages.
Blues head coach Enzo Maresca has made it clear the winger is not in his plans, so it could be a tense final few hours of the window for the player.
A real possibility Raheem Sterling stays at Chelsea
Kaveh Solhekol reports that he’s now hearing there’s a real chance Sterling stays at Chelsea beyond Friday’s deadline.
When providing an update on Sterling’s future, Solhekol told Sky Sports: “Chelsea have been trying to find a new club for him, but the latest information I have is it’s a real possibility that Raheem Sterling stays at Chelsea.
“I know there was talk of him possibly going to Arsenal. I think that would be a move that would appeal to him because they are a model club, they are in the Champions League, they are challenging for titles, but the information coming out of Arsenal from our reporter Gary Cotterill there, he was pouring a little bit of cold water on whether that move could happen.
“So there is a real possibility that Raheem Sterling could stay at Chelsea. Remember he has still got three years left on his contract, so if the move is not right, he will not be moving anywhere.”
It could be a frustrating few months ahead for Raheem Sterling
Maresca explained via BBC Sport this week that Sterling, along with the other players in Chelsea’s loan group working separately from the senior squad, will not play under him even if they don’t get transfer moves. Therefore, Sterling could end up spending the next few months without any first-team football.
At the age of 29, the fast wide man should be in his prime years and lighting up the Premier League. Let’s remember this is an individual with 82 England caps, plus he’s a four-time Premier League winner.
It does seem pretty unfair that Sterling is deemed not the right fit while someone like Mykhailo Mudryk is getting several chances under Maresca this season.
Sterling’s definitely underperformed during two years as a Chelsea player. He still finished last season with a moderate return of 10 goals and eight assists across all competitions, though.
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