Raheem Sterling’s next club odds: Dream Juventus move or Premier League switch more realistic?
Raheem Sterling has been deemed surplus to requirements at Chelsea.
The former Liverpool and Manchester City winger is no longer considered a member of the Blues squad, with newly installed head coach Enzo Maresca preferring alternative options.
Sterling’s camp released an extraordinary statement ahead of kickoff seeking “clarity” before their opening Premier League fixture against defending champions City.
Since then, Maresca believes he’s been clear with the “more than 15 players” — including Sterling and left-back Ben Chilwell — who are being asked to train apart from his main group.
He also stated that he spoke to Sterling before leaving him out of the squad for Chelsea’s 2-0 defeat to Man City and does not expect to have further conversations with the Englishman, who has effectively played his final game for the West London club (19 goals and 12 assists through 81 matches in all competitions). This was made clearer after Chelsea announced that Pedro Neto will change his shirt number from 19 to No.7 — which was previously worn by Sterling — for the remainder of the season.
So, where does the 82-cap England international’s future lie? The former Golden Boy recipient turns 30 in December and has been a far cry from his explosive best in recent years. But that doesn’t mean there’s no interest. We’ve looked at three possibilities: a dream option, a realistic transfer, and one wildcard pick.
A move abroad is no longer outside the realms of possibility for Premier League mainstays, which Sterling certainly is. Among those rumoured to be interested are Juventus, who are continuing their rebuild under Thiago Motta, someone who prefers to utilize wide forwards. The Old Lady has never been shy of acquiring the services of veteran Premier League stars, but those days are seemingly behind them with a youth wave hitting Turin.
In their Serie A opener against newly promoted Como, Juventus’ wingers were Timothy Weah (24) and Kenan Yildiz (19). There’s no question Sterling will provide experience and could even be persuaded to take on more of a squad role. But that’s without delving into the tricky matter of wages, as he’ll undoubtedly become one of the club’s highest earners. And from an outside perspective, it seems that Juve are modestly getting back on their feet after five years since their last Scudetto win. However, purchasing Sterling could upset the apple cart.
Statement from Raheem Sterling’s camp… #CFC pic.twitter.com/t8WHk6yPK4
— Henry Winter (@henrywinter) August 18, 2024
It’s more likely that Sterling will stay in the Premier League, and from the other 19 clubs, some could make the plunge. A graduate of QPR’s academy system, Chelsea were the first London-based professional team Sterling represented, and his next could be the second. Crystal Palace is no stranger to idolising wingers, and in Eberechi Eze, they have one of the Premier League’s most exciting ones.
That being said, Oliver Glasner opted for a 3-4-2-1 shape in their league opener against Brentford, with Eze and Daichi Kamada supporting Jean-Philippe Mateta as No.10s, which is a position that isn’t exactly new to Sterling. And, even so, Glasner could easily revert back to a 4-2-3-1 to accommodate two wingers.
Palace are still on the come-up under Glasner and may present a wildcard for both player and club. That being said, if they were to lose Eze, Sterling for example could provide them with a stopgap solution. Newcastle, another party reportedly interested, have no shortage of wide players with Anthony Gordon their particular jewel.
He was linked with a move to Sterling’s former club, Liverpool, but it seems he will be staying on Tyneside for now. Jacob Murphy and Harvey Barnes are two options on the opposite flank. In this scenario, Sterling would offer healthy competition.
