August 22nd 2024.
Will Raheem Sterling find a new club soon? It seems that his time at Chelsea has come to an abrupt end, with Enzo Maresca making it clear that the young player has no future with the team. This news has been confirmed by Graeme Souness, who believes that Sterling's next destination will be the Saudi Pro League. It's a bit of a shock, considering that just two years ago, Sterling was signed for a record-breaking fee and was seen as a key player for the team.
The drama began when Sterling was surprisingly left out of the matchday squad for Chelsea's game against Manchester City. This led to the player releasing a statement, asking for some clarity on his situation. Maresca then took the decision to remove Sterling from first-team training and privately explained the reasons behind it. However, things escalated quickly when Maresca publicly announced that both Sterling and his teammate Ben Chilwell needed to find new clubs. To make matters worse, Sterling was also stripped of his beloved No.7 shirt.
Naturally, all eyes are now on where Sterling will go next, especially with the transfer deadline approaching. The player's preference is to stay in the Premier League, but Souness has dismissed that possibility, stating that no English club will be able to afford his high wages and transfer fee. "Raheem Sterling's future lies in Saudi Arabia," he said on the Three Up Front podcast via William Hill. "He'll go there for two reasons - the money and the fact that no Premier League team would want to sign him due to his high asking price."
The odds for Sterling's next club are currently in favor of Juventus, with a 15/8 chance. However, any Saudi Pro League club is not far behind with 5/1 odds. Other Premier League teams like Aston Villa, Arsenal, and newly-promoted Brentford are also in the mix, but it seems unlikely that they would be able to meet Sterling's salary demands.
The situation at Chelsea is also a cause for concern, as their business model makes it difficult for them to offload players for a fair price. This is evident in the case of Sterling, who was bought for nearly £50 million but is now expected to leave for a fraction of that amount. It's a tough blow for the team, who have already seen several high-profile players leave during this transfer window.
With a potential move to the Saudi Pro League on the horizon, Sterling will join a long list of big-name players who have made the move to the wealthy league, including his former Chelsea teammates Kalidou Koulibaly, Edouard Mendy, and N'Golo Kante. Meanwhile, Chelsea will have to focus on their upcoming matches, with a Conference League game against Servette and a Premier League game against Wolves this week.
It's certainly been a summer of surprises for Chelsea, and it looks like there are more changes to come in the next few days. The team is expected to sell a number of players, with a "bomb squad" starting lineup that is worth over £300 million. As for Sterling, his future remains uncertain, but one thing is for sure - he won't be wearing a Chelsea shirt anytime soon. Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story.
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