Chelsea have had a very busy transfer deadline day with exits on the agenda but Raheem Sterling now appears to be stranded at Stamford Bridge after failing to find a new club
Raheem Sterling is ruing a nightmare situation having seemingly been left stranded at Chelsea. The England winger was told by Blues boss Enzo Maresca that he had no future at Stamford Bridge 12 months ago.
That led to him making a season-long loan move to rivals Arsenal. Sterling's spell in North London was underwhelming and he returned to Chelsea.
Since then, his prospects have not improved and it was expected that he would pursue a move away this summer. Fulham had emerged as potential suitors for Sterling’s services but a move did not transpire before the Premier League window closed at 7pm on Monday.
It now leaves Sterling in an unfortunate position where he could play no football at all until the next window in January. He could still potentially seal switches to the MLS, Turkey or Saudi Arabia - those respective windows still remaining open.
But Sterling was not convinced by a move to the Middle East earlier this summer and that reportedly remains the case now. The winger still has two years left on the lucrative deal he signed back in 2022 when making a £47.5m move from Manchester City.
It is suggested that he banks around £300,000-per-week in West London. Sterling, 30, has made 81 appearances for Chelsea in all, scoring 19 goals.
While he failed to secure an escape from Stamford Bridge, the same cannot be said of a few of his exiled teammates. Ben Chilwell is expected to depart Chelsea on a permanent basis and join Strasbourg.
He has been offered a two-year deal by the French side having spent the second half of last season on loan at Crystal Palace. He joins Mike Penders, Mamadou Sarr, Ishe Samuels-Smith , Mathis Amougou and Kendry Paez in making a switch to Chelsea’s sister club this summer.
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French defender Axel Disasi was also hopeful of sealing a move away from West London before the deadline. But he too failed to find new employment and looks set to stay as a Chelsea player for the time being.
Youngster Tyrique George is set to join West London rivals Fulham in a £22m deal.