Raheem Sterling is reportedly wanted by two sides in the Premier League, after he was controversially left out of Chelsea's opening game of the season against Manchester City on Sunday.
Releasing a statement demanding clarity over his future, Sterling's representatives highlighted how the 29-year-old being left out of the matchday squad came as a surprise.
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca responded on Sunday in an attempt to help supporters understand the decision making.
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“The only thing I can say was a technical decision and we will find clarity,” Maresca said. “All the players, if they want to be Chelsea players we want to try and see how we can use them. I want Raheem Sterling but we have 30 players. Raheem, we will clarify in the next days.”
According to HITC, the availability of Raheem Sterling has captured the attention of Premier League sides Crystal Palace and West Ham United, with teams in Saudi Arabia also interested in the Englishman.
The report suggests Sterling could depart Chelsea on loan, but a sale is certainly the preferred option.
Sterling signed for Chelsea two years ago for £47.5m, but it's extremely unlikely they'll be able to recoup a large portion of that transfer fee - especially when considering he is valued at £30m by Transfermarkt and it seems as if Chelsea are attempting to force him out of the door.
Crystal Palace certainly have the money to complete a deal for Sterling this window, having sold Michael Olise to Bayern Munich for more than £50m, while West Ham have proven they're willing to splash the cash under new manager Julen Lopetegui.
However, Sterling's contract at Stamford Bridge doesn't expire until 2027, while his £325k-per-week wages could prove a huge stumbling block in negotiations.
In FourFourTwo's view, it doesn't seem likely that Sterling will move to either Crystal Palace or West Ham this summer, with neither side able to match his astronomical wages. He's still got three years remaining on his deal, and clubs in Saudi Arabia are likely the only ones willing to somewhat meet Sterling's demands.
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