Raheem Sterling odds slashed to stay at Chelsea in huge twist after exit talks
Raheem Sterling could be set to make it through yet another transfer window without getting a move away from Chelsea.
The former England international has been part of the Blues’ ‘bomb squad’ for over a year now, after he was quickly cast aside by Enzo Maresca after he took the reins in the summer of 2024.
Former Manchester United chief scout Mick Brown exclusively told Football Insider in December that Sterling’s exit from Chelsea was inevitable in January, amid interest from the likes of Fulham, West Ham and Newcastle.
However, Liam Rosenior is now at the helm at Stamford Bridge, and it looks as though the picture could be set to change again for Sterling in the coming weeks.
Raheem Sterling increasingly likely to stay at Chelsea
Rosenior has planned to speak to both Sterling and fellow ‘bomb squad’ member Axel Disasi about their futures after his recent appointment, as he bids to find a solution for the outcast pair.
The new boss’ interest in Sterling has still not progressed as far as including him in a matchday squad, as the winger is still waiting for his first competitive appearance of the campaign.
The 31-year-old spent last season on loan with Arsenal, and Chelsea have been desperately trying to secure a permanent exit for him ever since Maresca’s arrival, but to no avail so far.
Sterling’s sizeable wages have provided a difficult obstacle for the West Londoners to overcome, and that has seemingly put other Premier League sides off making a concrete move for him.
Napoli had recently looked like an increasingly likely winter destination for the ex-Manchester City man, but the saga surrounding his future appears to have taken another twist after his talks with Rosenior.
The odds of Sterling remaining at Chelsea after the January window have now been slashed once again, with one major bookmaker pricing him as low as 6/4 at the moment.
The wideman has attracted interest from plenty of clubs in recent weeks, but the possibility of him staying put is currently seen as the most likely outcome.
Why Liam Rosenior will not re-integrate Sterling
Former Everton and Aston Villa chief executive Keith Wyness told Football Insider on Thursday that he doesn’t think Rosenior will re-integrate Sterling into Chelsea’s squad.
The 68-year-old feels that the situation has grown stale for Sterling at Stamford Bridge, and also indicated that it would be difficult for Rosenior to sell the option of re-integration to the club hierarchy, given the wages that he is on.
With that in mind, Wyness still feels that the Blues should be looking to try and find a last-minute solution to get Sterling out of the door before the 2 February deadline, no matter how unlikely their current chances appear.
The former boardroom player also expects the same for Disasi, with recent interest from Leeds United offering a potential escape route in that instance.