Raheem Sterling’s Chelsea Exit Discussions Intensify as Transfer Deadline Approaches

omidbasir- The 31-year-old winger is currently engaged in discussions aimed at securing his departure from the west London club, following a period of exclusion that has seen him entirely removed from the squad, as reported by The Daily Mail.

The urgency to reach a resolution has intensified with the impending transfer deadline set for Monday. The extent of Sterling’s exclusion is underscored by a striking statistic: his upcoming absence will coincide with Chelsea’s 100th match since he last played for the team. His final appearance was during a Premier League victory over Bournemouth in May 2024. Since then, the former England international has been deemed surplus to requirements, and there is a hope for a mutually agreeable solution.

The specifics of his departure are a focal point of ongoing negotiations. It remains uncertain whether Chelsea will be able to identify a buyer willing to acquire the veteran forward outright before the window closes, or if they will have to resort to a mutual termination of his contract. With 18 months remaining on his lucrative agreement, a financial settlement may be necessary to facilitate his exit and alleviate pressure on the wage bill.

While the club’s management works towards concluding Sterling’s departure, head coach Liam Rosenior has refrained from commenting on the matter during pre-match press conferences. When asked about Sterling’s future ahead of the Champions League clash against Napoli, Rosenior chose to maintain respectful silence regarding a player who has not been part of his plans. “I’ve said what I’ve had to say on Raheem. He’s a player I have massive respect for, both as a person and for his achievements in the game. Now is not the right time to speak about his situation,” he stated.

After spending the previous season on loan at Arsenal, Sterling returned to Cobham only to find himself training separately from the first team. He was initially sidelined under former manager Enzo Maresca and has remained outside the squad under Rosenior. This “bomb squad” treatment has meant that the experienced forward has been training away from the main group for months, anticipating a resolution regarding his contract.

This predicament serves as a poignant reminder of the early days of the Todd Boehly-Clearlake Capital ownership. When he joined from Manchester City in 2022 for a fee of £47.5 million, Sterling was the first high-profile signing of the new regime, symbolizing a bold statement of intent. He was awarded a substantial five-year contract worth £325,000 per week, a salary that has become increasingly incongruent with the club’s evolving financial strategy.

Since that summer, Chelsea has significantly revised its recruitment approach, favoring incentivized contracts with lower base salaries for new acquisitions, moving away from the lucrative deals that characterized their initial spending spree. The continued presence of a high-earner like Sterling—who has not contributed on the pitch for nearly two years—represents a considerable financial burden, prompting the club to seek to eliminate this prominent remnant of their original strategy and allow for a transition towards a younger, more financially sustainable squad.

Sterling is the most notable name among what has come to be known as Chelsea’s “bomb squad,” a group of players without a long-term future at the club. Most of these players have already departed as the club systematically reduces its roster.

Another notable member of this group is Axel Disasi. The 27-year-old French defender had initially joined Sterling in training away from the first team earlier in the season. However, unlike Sterling, Disasi has since been reintegrated into Rosenior’s training sessions. Despite this slight change in circumstance, his future remains uncertain, and it is understood that he could still be transferred this month if a suitable offer materializes. In contrast, for Sterling, there appears to be no pathway back to the pitch in a Chelsea jersey, only a route leading out of the club.