Stefan Borson: Chelsea could offer big name ‘£25m’ to terminate his contract
Raheem Sterling could be offered £25million to terminate his Chelsea deal after failing to secure a move away from Stamford Bridge.
Football Insider revealed on 23 August Chelsea were struggling to sell Sterling after clubs have been put off by his wages.
The 30-year-old is believed to be on around £300,000 a week, leaving Enzo Maresca’s side likely having to subsidise any potential deal.
West Ham and Fulham were both interested in signing Sterling in the final few days of the summer transfer window.
However, Sterling remained at Chelsea after the domestic transfer deadline passed on 1 September, with few windows still remaining open overseas.
Chelsea owe Raheem Sterling £40m
This article contains exclusive comment from Stefan Borson, a former financial adviser to Man City.
Sterling spent last season on loan at Arsenal, but he failed to provide much of an impact at the Emirates Stadium.
Chelsea now have a decision to make over the winger’s future, with his deal running until June 2027.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider about whether Chelsea could terminate Sterling’s deal, Borson said: “Look, I think that’s the most likely scenario, but we’re not close to the conversation.
“They might just say, well, we’ll take a look at it in January. But it’s hard to see why it would be better in January. I guess somebody might be in desperate need of a player, but he sort of said he doesn’t want to move outside of London.
“I think they’ll try and do a deal. I think they’ll try and negotiate a settlement for his contracts and allow him to then go free somewhere. I don’t know what it’s going to be, maybe £20-25million.
“It’s an amazing amount of money that’s owed to him. He’s got two years at let’s say £300,000-325,000 a week.
“The contract’s worth something like £40million probably with all of the signing on, with everything that’s left, with a player that’s saying I don’t want to leave, you want me to leave, he’s probably got something like £40million left in his contract.
“So, what’s the negotiation on a £40million liability over two years? You get discount for paying it all in one go upfront, and the players allowed to go off and earn money elsewhere.
“But it feels like £25million at least really, doesn’t it?”
Axel Disasi could quit Chelsea within days
In terms of another potential exit, recruitment expert Mick Brown told Football Insider Axel Disasi could complete a move away from Chelsea in the next few days.
A proposed move to Bournemouth fell through towards the end of the transfer window, while the 27-year-old is believed to have snubbed West Ham, Crystal Palace and Wolves.
However, Disasi could still join clubs in Saudi Arabia, Turkey or Mexico as those windows remain open.
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