Chelsea Set To Offload Raheem Sterling and 5 Chelsea Players In this January Transfer Window Of High Turnover to avoid FFP rules and to fund the signing £100m Midfielder
Raheem Sterling appears to be inching closer toward securing an unexpected departure from Chelsea before the January transfer window slams shut at the beginning of February.
The experienced winger has been consigned to what has become known as the ‘bomb squad’ at Stamford Bridge ever since Enzo Maresca assumed control of the first team during the summer of 2024, and his unfortunate situation shows precious little sign of improving even under the stewardship of new manager Liam Rosenior.
While Rosenior has expressed his willingness to engage in discussions with Sterling about his future prospects at the club, the recently appointed boss has yet to include the player in a single matchday squad since officially taking the reins on 7 January, suggesting the 31-year-old remains firmly on the periphery.
The veteran attacker hasn’t registered a solitary minute of Premier League action for the Blues throughout this entire campaign, and persistent speculation has been building steadily in recent weeks about where he might ultimately land once the winter transfer window concludes.
Keith Wyness, the former chief executive of both Everton and Aston Villa, recently offered his assessment to Football Insider, identifying Fulham as the most realistic destination for Sterling should he opt to remain in the Premier League before the 2 February deadline passes.
A host of clubs including Leeds United, Newcastle United, and West Ham United have all been linked with potential moves for the former England international, though none of these possibilities appear particularly likely to develop into firm offers at this stage of proceedings.
Fulham remains the bookmakers’ favorite among domestic suitors, although one major betting company has recently lengthened their odds of completing a deal to 13/8, perhaps reflecting some uncertainty about whether the move will materialize.
However, the most intriguing development may be Sterling’s potential switch to Napoli, with the Italian powerhouse maintaining genuine and consistent interest in bringing the Chelsea outcast to Serie A.
Antonio Conte’s side appears to be gaining momentum in their pursuit as the window enters its final stretch, with their odds of securing Sterling’s signature dramatically slashed to 5/1 on Sunday, suggesting growing confidence that a deal could be struck.
Interestingly, Sterling’s own words from the past provide valuable insight into how he might view such an opportunity abroad.
Stefan Borson, Manchester City’s former financial advisor, recently questioned whether genuine demand exists for Sterling’s services, pointing out that despite the January window being more than two weeks old, the player remains at Stamford Bridge without any concrete movement materializing.
While that observation certainly rings true regarding interest from fellow Premier League clubs, Napoli could represent the perfect escape route for the talented wideman—and crucially, it’s one he would genuinely welcome based on his previous public statements.
Speaking to GQ magazine back in 2019, Sterling candidly revealed that playing abroad had been a cherished “dream” of his since his youth, meaning he may now find himself presented with the ideal opportunity to fulfill that long-standing career aspiration.
Having conquered English football during his glittering spell at the Etihad Stadium, where he collected virtually every major honor the domestic game has to offer, the prospect of embarking on an entirely new adventure in the twilight of his career could prove simply too tempting to resist.
