Chelsea are gearing up for a busy end to the summer transfer window, with reports suggesting that Raheem Sterling is just one of nine players the club wants to move on.
After a disappointing loan spell at Arsenal last season, Sterling still has two years left on his hefty £325,000-a-week contract, leaving both him and the club eager for a solution.
The Telegraph reports that Chelsea and Sterling are ideally seeking a permanent move, though another loan deal could be on the table if the right offer doesn’t arrive.
A Long List of Departures
Sterling isn’t alone in facing an uncertain future at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea are reportedly looking to offload or loan out a number of other players, including Christopher Nkunku, Nicolas Jackson, Renato Veiga, Axel Disasi, Carney Chukwuemeka, Ben Chilwell, and potentially Tyrique George.
Even Argentine defender Aaron Anselmino has attracted interest from clubs across Europe.
Overall, Chelsea aim to raise around £300 million from player sales before the window closes, which would bring their net spending for the season close to zero.
Sterling’s Options in London
For Sterling, staying in London seems appealing, especially for family reasons.
Fulham have registered their interest, while West Ham and Crystal Palace have also been linked with moves for the 30-year-old winger.
That said, Sterling isn’t closing the door on other Premier League clubs, and overseas teams are reportedly monitoring his situation as well.
Life on the Sidelines
Things haven’t been easy for Sterling at Chelsea.
Manager Enzo Maresca has reportedly told him he won’t feature for the Club World Cup winners this season, and his profile has even been removed from the first-team section of the club website.
Sterling joined Chelsea in the summer of 2022 for £47.5 million after leaving Manchester City, but recent seasons have seen a dip in his form.
During his loan at Arsenal last year, he managed just one goal in 28 appearances.
Competition for Forward Spots
Maresca’s squad is stacked with new attacking signings, including Jamie Gittens, Liam Delap, and Joao Pedro, which has pushed Sterling further down the pecking order.
Currently, he is training away from the first-team group.
Chelsea plan to focus on completing moves for Xavi Simons and Alejandro Garnacho once the futures of Jackson and Nkunku are sorted.
Bayern Munich have made a loan offer for Nkunku, but Chelsea are holding out for a permanent sale.
Other Player Moves in Progress
Renato Veiga’s potential move to Atletico Madrid fell through, but Villarreal have now entered the race.
Meanwhile, Carney Chukwuemeka is keen to return to Borussia Dortmund.
With so much activity expected over the next two weeks, the Blues are set for a hectic end to the transfer window.
