Chelsea outcast Raheem Sterling posts transfer hint in new message to fans

Chelsea currently look set to welcome Raheem Sterling back for pre-season training after his loan spell at Arsenal came to nothing.

Sterling's career is at a crossroads after the conclusion of his loan move to the Emirates last season, which yielded a solitary goal scored against Bolton in the EFL Cup and just two Premier League assists.

Football Insider revealed that Arsenal had already decided not to extend Sterling's time in north London by early May, and the Gunners confirmed on 4 June that the 30-year-old would be returning to Chelsea.

He is not representing his parent club at the Club World Cup in the US and his prospects at Chelsea look bleak ahead of pre-season.

Sterling sends training message with Chelsea career in limbo

Enzo Maresca wasted little time in ostracising Sterling from his first-team plans once he took charge at Stamford Bridge, and his deadline day loan move to Arsenal was by its nature a last-chance transfer.

With five wide forwards signed by Chelsea since his move from Manchester City in 2022 and the number seven shirt taken by Pedro Neto last summer, Sterling couldn't be much further down the pecking order.

Sterling, however, has done his best to get a head-start prior to pre-season training with no immediate exit from Chelsea on the cards, and has linked up with sports agency 16NinetyTwo for this summer.

The out-of-favour star shared a post from 16NinetyTwo on his Instagram story (27 June) to potential suitors after a group training session, which said: "Off-season, on [the] job. Summer workouts for our Raheem, Somto, Asher and Cruz".

Sterling set for Chelsea purgatory after Arsenal failure

Football Insider Verdict

Pedro Neto's form in the number seven for Chelsea has certainly warranted keeping his place out wide, and the exit door surely beckons for Sterling this summer with further Chelsea signings in the pipeline.

Lyon's Malick Fofana is potentially on his way to Stamford Bridge after the French side's demotion to Ligue 2 for financial issues, and Maresca will be keen to seal a cut-price deal as soon as possible.

The Italian will also hope he can resolve Sterling's future before the winger even returns to Cobham for pre-season training, but with no suitable moves in sight, Chelsea look set for another summer of long-winded negotiations and struggle.