A Champions League club is reportedly monitoring the situation, and Chelsea appear prepared to sanction the move for that fee if the interest materialises.
Sterling’s time at Stamford Bridge has not gone as planned. Signed in 2022 for a hefty £47.5 million, he failed to make the impact Chelsea hoped for. Last season, he played just 17 Premier League matches, didn't score, and registered only two assists. At 30, with wages reportedly around £325,000 per week, he’s simply not in manager Enzo Maresca’s plans.
Why Sterling Needs to Leave
Chelsea’s attack has changed a lot this summer. Jadon Sancho’s loan from Manchester United was bought as an obligation, only for them to pay £5 million to send him back early. Meanwhile, new signings, Joao Pedro, Liam Delap, and Jamie Gittens – have come in and pushed Sterling further down the pecking order.
Sterling has returned to training but trains with those not in Maresca’s immediate plans. Chelsea want a permanent exit and a clean wage reduction. They seem willing to take a loss on selling him, provided they recoup about £20 million.
Interest in Sterling seems limited. Although reports in June linked him to Turkish side Besiktas, they are not in next season’s Champions League and those links have cooled.
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The reported interest from a Champions League club sounds more serious, but for now, it’s still based on external speculation and hasn’t been confirmed.
What’s Really Going On at Chelsea This Summer
Sterling isn’t the only player leaving. Chelsea are in the middle of a large‑scale rebuild. After paying around £210 million on new players so far, they need to sell to balance the books and stay clear of financial regulations.
Among the high‑profile names leaving:
Joao Félix: Signed for roughly £44.5 million last summer from Atlético Madrid, but never settled. He spent the second half of the season on loan at AC Milan.
Chelsea want about £35 million, though Benfica reportedly want 50% of his rights for half that price. Benfica president Rui Costa has said finances are tight, admitting the cost is high.
Christopher Nkunku: Joined for £52 million in 2023, but injuries and lack of form limited his Premier League output to just 3 goals in 27 games. Chelsea originally valued him at around £65 million, but interest has waned.
Reports now say his asking price has dropped to approximately £43.3 million or even less, with Bayern Munich and Manchester United among interested parties. Some sources suggest Chelsea are confident of recouping the full fee, but recent evaluations point to around £35 million or so.
According to the Standard and Talksport, Chelsea are pushing through a ruthless clearance. Over ten players may depart, including high-earners like Ben Chilwell, Renato Veiga, Axel Disasi, Carney Chukwuemeka, Armando Broja and more.
What the Fans and Experts Are Saying
It’s clear Sterling and Nkunku became surplus because of how Chelsea want to reshape their attack. The strategy under Maresca appears focused on younger signings like Cole Palmer and Nicolas Jackson, who have stepped up in recent seasons, leaving others falling behind.
A FootballTransfers analysis described both Nkunku and Félix as players who “will never break into Chelsea’s A team” they were overshadowed by players like Palmer and Jackson, who fit the manager’s preferred approach better.
On forums, disappointed fans were vocal. One Reddit user described Félix:
“It’s wild how good Joao was for Benfica and how he’s fallen off since then”
Another added:
“Everyone talking about Nkunku/Felix but the craziest part … Villa offered us £6m … and we didn't jump on that”.
Chelsea’s decision‑making on transfers hasn’t escaped criticism. With financial pressures and UEFA scrutiny especially around inflated swap deals like the one with Aston Villa they’re under pressure to deliver real value from sales as well as purchases.
What This Means for Sterling
Raheem Sterling was once one of England’s top wingers. Coming through at Manchester City and Liverpool, he won multiple Premier League titles, Champions League finals, and was a key figure in England’s best years. So it feels emotional to see him now as surplus to requirement.
There’s frustration among fans that his wages and reputation may complicate a move. London clubs like Crystal Palace or West Ham have been mentioned as realistic landing spots, partly because Sterling’s family remains in the city and relocation would be easier.
The real issue is how little he offered on the pitch last season. He didn’t score a single league goal and only managed two assists. For a player of his reputation, that just isn’t good enough.
Sterling is aware of this, and supporters sympathise: he wants to reset somewhere he can play regularly.
Chelsea’s Financial and Sporting Logic
Chelsea need to sell £100m-plus worth of players to register new signings for the Champions League.
UEFA has made clear they’ll watch inflated deals carefully, and Chelsea remain under settlement agreements from past breaches.
Selling Sterling for £20m, Félix for £35m, and Nkunku even for £40m would bring in significant funds. Coupled with offloading other high earners, Chelsea could reduce the wage bill and comply with rules.
From a sporting standpoint, Maresca is assembling a younger core. Cole Palmer, Jackson, Delap, Pedro and Gittens. Those players look cheaper and more in tune with the style he wants. Older and high-wage players not fitting that vision had to go.
What Could Happen Next
If the Champions League club monitoring Sterling decides to make their interest official, things could escalate fast.
Chelsea already have a price tag in place, and Sterling keen to get back to regular football would likely be open to personal terms quickly. A move offering European football and a proper reset could be exactly what he needs right now.
With Joao Félix, it’s all about negotiations. Benfica want him back. He’s open to returning. But the math doesn’t add up. Chelsea won’t let him go for cheap, and Benfica are clear they can’t overspend. Unless someone blinks, that one’s going to drag.
Nkunku’s future is still uncertain. Nkunku’s situation isn’t clear. Chelsea aren’t really trying to sell him, but they’re open to it. If Bayern or United make a good offer, he’ll probably be sold. If not, he might just stay and try to prove himself this season.
Wanderlustsport Verdict
Chelsea’s move to accept around £20m for Raheem Sterling is a combination of necessity and pragmatism. His lack of impact, combined with high wages and a squad overhaul under Enzo Maresca, make him expendable.
He joins other big names like Joao Félix and Christopher Nkunku, all part of a strategic clear‑out. Chelsea are being pressed by financial rules and sporting direction to let go of old stock and make room for their new vision.
The human side is real, these are players who once carried big expectations. But now, Chelsea want to rebalance and build around younger, cheaper and more in‑tune talent backing clubs like Benfica, Bayern, Manchester United, or Saudi teams to step in.
Sterling’s sale even at a modest fee is part of a broader rebuild. It’s about resetting wages, squad harmony, and financial safety. For fans watching, it's bittersweet: seeing familiar faces go, while hoping the new core delivers.