Raheem Sterling is not the only player feeling suddenly out of place at a club beset by instability, excess and waste
before the transfer window shuts in less than a fortnight. The market is depressed, everything has to be influenced by concerns around the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules and, in that context, it is hard to fancy Enzo Maresca’s chances of selling Raheem Sterling when the 29-year-old winger still has three years left on a contract worth £325,000 a week.
The logic is far from bulletproof. Sterling is perplexed and wants the club to provide clarity on his future. He was involved in pre‑season, was described recently by Maresca as an “important player” and, with wonderful comic timing, was featured in a promotional image when Chelsea proudly unveiled their new sleeve sponsor on Monday morning.
Sterling feels out of place. He was signed during the first summer of the new ownership, when there was more of a focus on acquiring established talent, but the focus has shifted. Chelsea, who remain confident they will comply with PSR, have looked to cut their wage bill and these days there is an emphasis on handing long, incentivised contracts to young talent. There is a great team waiting to emerge, if only anyone can work out how to maintain stability on and off the pitch.
And so Chelsea have excluded Gallagher from first‑team training and have also exiled Trevoh Chalobah, who was one of their standout defenders at the end of last season. The bomb squad is growing. Armando Broja awaits a buyer and Ben Chilwell, vice‑captain last year, has been told he is not part of Maresca’s plans.Napoli are in talks over Romelu Lukaku and Kepa Arrizabalaga is still a Chelsea player.
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