Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has cast further doubt on the futures of Raheem Sterling and Axel Disasi, saying neither player is likely to play for the club again. Since coming back from their loan spells last season, the two have been training away from the first team at Cobham. It seems like the club is set on getting rid of them when the transfer window opens next month.
As the January transfer window approaches, the focus has shifted to finding a solution for the two high-paid players who are still completely out of first-team action. Maresca discussed the situation during his media duties ahead of the Champions League match against Atalanta. He reiterated that the team’s position on both players hasn’t changed, despite the busy winter schedule:
“In terms of Raheem, once again, it’s the same thing I said about Axel: they are Chelsea players. Now, we are also in December, and January is coming, so anything can happen, obviously.”
The comments make it clear that the Blues’ top priority is for the duo to leave for good. Sterling, who came to Stamford Bridge in the summer of 2022 for £47.5m, has had trouble being consistent in west London, scoring only 19 goals in 81 games. A loan spell with Arsenal for the whole 2024/25 season didn’t help his career.
Disasi is also on the outside looking in after a tough 18 months. The French defender went on loan to Aston Villa last season, but he wasn’t able to make the move permanent. Chelsea paid £38.5m for the center-back from Monaco, but he hasn’t played a single minute this season. Reports from France indicate that Lyon is interested in allowing Disasi to leave the club in January.
Chelsea prepare to take on Atalanta
Chelsea are in Bergamo tonight for a big Champions League game against Atalanta. Both teams have 10 points in the league phase, so this is a crucial game for both teams to finish in the top eight and automatically qualify for the round of 16.
The Blues are in Italy to try to get back on track after a mixed run of form at home, where they lost 3-1 to Leeds United and then drew 0-0 with Bournemouth. But their European form is still strong; Maresca’s team just beat Barcelona 3-0 in their last continental game.
Atalanta, coached by Raffaele Palladino, will be a formidable opponent at the Gewiss Stadium. The Italian team recently beat Eintracht Frankfurt 3-0, but they lost to Hellas Verona at home over the weekend.