Raheem Sterling’s future at Chelsea is in serious doubt after the winger was excluded from the squad against Manchester City in the 2024/25 Premier League opener on Sunday. The winger’s representative went public with a statement expressing concerns about his absence. Following Enzo Maresca’s announcement of the Chelsea squad against Man City, Sterling’s camp responded with a statement that they were seeking more ‘clarity’ regarding his future at the club.
“Putting that statement out before the game is not good enough” ❌
“I think that’s absolute RUBBISH!”The Super Sunday panel discuss the statement made by Raheem Sterling’s representatives pic.twitter.com/m4xU6pP6Tt
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) August 18, 2024
Sterling’s camp demands clarity
Their statement read: ‘Raheem Sterling is contracted to Chelsea Football Club for the next three years.
‘He returned to England two weeks early to conduct individual training, and has had a positive pre-season under the new coach, who he has developed a good working relationship with.
‘He is committed, as ever, to delivering at the highest level for Chelsea FC and the fans, who he holds in high regard, and given his inclusion in official club pre-match material this week, our expectation was that Raheem would be involved in this weekend’s fixture in some capacity.
‘As a camp, we have always had positive dialogue with, and assurance from, Chelsea FC in relation to Raheem’s future at the club, so we look forward to gaining clarity on the situation.
‘Until then, we will continue to support Raheem’s desire to start the new season positively.’
Potential transfer twist: What’s next for Raheem Sterling?
It seems that Raheem Sterling could just be heading for his way out from Stamford Bridge as his career hangs in the balance with this recent development. Reports from Sky Italia’s Gianluca di Marzio suggest that the English club has discussed the possibility of a swap deal involving Raheem Sterling and Federico Chiesa.
However, negotiations have been held back primarily after failing to agree on Raheem Sterling’s wages, which both clubs value differently. Nonetheless, Chelsea remains interested in Federico Chiesa and may end up tabling a bid if another buyer looking to sign Raheem Sterling comes up.
Sterling has a three-year contract remaining with Chelsea, earning a hefty £325,000 per week. It is believed that the Chelsea co-owners would not be afraid to offload Raheem Sterling to reduce the wage burden, especially if he is not expected to play a significant role this season. Meanwhile, Juventus are exploring options to strengthen their attack, and has expressed interest not only in Sterling but also in Jadon Sancho from Manchester United, Marcus Edwards from Sporting CP, and Nico Gonzalez from Fiorentina.
