Raheem Sterling looks set to end his time in the football wilderness and leave Chelsea in the coming days.
The England winger could have his £325,000-a-week contract with the Blues ripped up by Monday when the transfer window shuts.
Sterling signed on a five-year deal from Manchester City in 2022 but he has not played for the club since May 2024, and spent last season on loan at Arsenal.
There is increasing confidence that either Sterling will find a new club and attempt to reignite his career or come to an agreement over the remaining 18 months on his contract – still worth more than £25million – at Stamford Bridge.
He is understood to be reluctant to accept another loan move and wants a permanent resolution.
Sterling, 31, went out on loan to Arsenal last season having been told by Enzo Maresca he would struggle for minutes.
Raheem Sterling, seen coaching youngsters, has been exiled at Chelsea and is set to leave
Sterling has made 81 appearances for Chelsea but has not played for them in almost two years
But he hardly played under Mikel Arteta in north London and returned to the same predicament with his parent club this summer.
Even though new boss Liam Rosenior said players would have a ‘clean slate’ under him, Sterling is likely to move on.
Sterling is the highest profile member of the Chelsea ‘bomb squad’, which has included Axel Disasi, Ben Chilwell, Carney Chukwuemeka, Lesley Ugochukwu, Alfie Gilchrist.
None of them were regarded as having a long-term future at the club and have spent time training away from the first-team squad.
