Raheem Sterling is set to leave Chelsea, and he is keen on remaining in the Premier League for his next move.
Chelsea has made it clear that Sterling is not part of their plans for the future. The club has already taken the No. 7 shirt from him and given it to new signing Pedro Neto. Head coach Enzo Maresca has also indicated that Sterling no longer fits into his plans.
“I’m not saying Raheem isn’t a good player, but I prefer a different type of winger,” Maresca commented.
Chelsea is open to offers for Sterling, with Juventus having shown interest in him last month. However, Sterling prefers to stay in the Premier League. Moving to Saudi Arabia is not an option for him as his family is settled in England, and he is also hoping to continue representing the England national team.
Unlike some other players, Sterling’s contract at Chelsea does not include a reduction in wages if the team does not qualify for the Champions League. Consequently, Sterling’s exclusion from the Chelsea squad appears inevitable given the club’s recent influx of new signings.
Sterling was one of the first significant signings Chelsea made under Todd Boehly’s ownership, joining from Manchester City. During his 59 Premier League appearances for Chelsea, he scored 14 goals and provided 7 assists. These contributions, however, have not justified his high salary of £325,000 per week, making his departure seem increasingly likely.