Stefan Borson ‘surprised’ after Chelsea make Raheem Sterling free transfer decision
Chelsea have a decision to make around Raheem Sterling’s future as he’s once again available for a transfer.
Sterling has been frozen out at Chelsea by manager Enzo Maresca, with the 31-year-old yet to make an appearance this season.
Chelsea struggled to sell Sterling in the summer transfer window after clubs were put off by his £300,000-a-week wages.
Leeds United have been linked with a move to sign Sterling, but the Blues would likely have to subsidise any potential deal.
Who could Raheem Sterling join in January transfer window?
Former Man City financial adviser Stefan Borson exclusively told Football Insider he was “surprised” Chelsea didn’t offer Sterling a free transfer to leave Stamford Bridge in the summer.
There was previously speculation Chelsea could pay Sterling to terminate his deal at Stamford Bridge, with his contract running until June 2027.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, Borson said: “I was a little bit surprised in the summer that they didn’t give him a free transfer, do a deal with him to pay off a chunk of it and let him go.
“He doesn’t seem to want to move very far away from London and that obviously really limits where he could go if you were to look down the Premier League.
“Where would he go? West Ham is an obvious one. If he said he doesn’t want to move out of London, Nottingham Forest is a bit of a commute, and they probably don’t need him. He doesn’t really fit with what they’re after.
“Leeds would be too far. Bournemouth could work, but the wages would be enormous. Newcastle, I don’t think it’s going to work. It doesn’t feel like he fits in the Brighton model at all. Everton is too far. Spurs are not going to be interested. Fulham is, I guess, a possibility, but I think that’s probably the limit, isn’t it?
“I mean, Crystal Palace maybe they just think if they can get him for effectively a proportion of his wages, could he offer something in the second half of the season, given all the games they’ve got? I guess that’s not impossible.”
Sterling spent last season on loan at Arsenal, but he failed to provide much of an impact at the Emirates Stadium.
Sterling will be ‘extremely expensive’ signing for new club
Borson insisted Sterling would be an “extremely expensive” signing for any of the interested parties.
“Look, the bottom line is, there are very few options,” said Borson.
“He’s extremely expensive for Chelsea or for a club that takes him. It’s a bit surprising that there’s no rumours and no news.
“I would have thought they’d have been planning this now since 1 September to be able to get him out of there on 1 January, but it’s so far very quiet.”
Sterling’s latest appearance came on the final day of last season, where he helped Arsenal secure a 2-1 victory over Southampton.
The winger, who hasn’t featured for Chelsea since May 2024, signed for the Blues in a £50million deal from Man City in the summer of 2022.
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