Leeds odds slashed on signing Raheem Sterling in January as ‘major’ news emerges out of Chelsea
Leeds United are set to make a January move to sign Chelsea outcast Raheem Sterling as they look to avoid relegation.
Sterling is training away from the Chelsea squad, along with several other player resigned to what has been dubbed the ‘bomb squad’.
Axel Disasi has also been frozen out with the group, who are not permitted to share training sessions with the first team as the Blues attempt to force them away from the club.
Sterling has been told that he must take a pay cut to leave Chelsea, with the former England international reportedly earning in excess of £300,000 per week to train.
Chelsea attempted to terminate Sterling’s contract in the summer, but an agreement with the 31-year-old could not be found.
Leeds United among clubs looking at Raheem Sterling
Sterling moved to Chelsea in a big-money move from Manchester City in 2022, but failed to recapture the form he had shown with the Citizens.
A deadline-day loan move to Arsenal last season looked to present the 31-year-old with a chance to kick-start his career, but that would not work out, either.
| Raheem Sterling | Arsenal (all competitions 2024-25) |
| Appearances | 28 |
| Goals | 1 |
| Assists | 5 |
| Starts | 13 |
| Minutes | 1143 |
Sterling made just 28 appearances across all competitions for the Gunners, with the vast majority of them coming from the bench.
With time running out on his career, Football Insider have been told that Leeds are among several Premier League clubs considering a move for Sterling.
“They’re in need of attacking players and at his best he would be an improvement on what they’ve got, it’s just a question of whether he is at his best these days,” former scout Mick Brown said.
“He went on loan to Arsenal last season and really struggled, barely played, and the amount of playing time he’s had over the last year is a major concern.“
Leeds were considering sacking Daniel Farke just a few weeks ago, but have found a patch of promising form.
With the threat of relegation still looming, however, a move for a Premier League great in Sterling could be planned to push the Whites towards safety.
Odds shorten as Leeds prepare Sterling approach
Chelsea are expected to make life extremely easy for any team attempting to sign Sterling in the January transfer window.
The problem, however, is likely to come in the form of the 31-year-old’s wages. Even Arsenal were unwilling to cover the full cost, only agreeing to take the forward on loan at a reduced rate.
The decision will have to come from Sterling himself, who must weigh up his wages against a potential return to first-team football.
Odds on the former Liverpool man joining Leeds in January have shortened to 18/1 in recent days, with Crystal Palace (5/2) and Bayern Munich (9/2) leading the race according to one major bookmaker.