Raheem Sterling might have hoped that things could be about to change when Enzo Maresca was finally sacked by Chelsea, and the club appointed Liam Rosenior as his replacement.
Rosenior has come in and in his first week, has been a breath of fresh air. Brilliant in front of the camera and during media duties, Rosenior made eight changes for his first game as manager on Saturday.
Yet, the new gaffer masterminded an excellent – albeit, comfortable – win against Championship side Charlton Athletic in the third round of The FA Cup. Five different scorers, two Rosenior subs scoring.
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Behdad Eghbali (R) co-owner of Chelsea with co-sporting directors, Paul Winstanley (L)) and Laurence Stewart (C)
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A brilliant first match, with Rosenior the first manager to win his first Chelsea game since Antonio Conte beat West Ham in August 2016. But for Sterling, it does not look as if anything is going to change.
Raheem Sterling’s stance on Chelsea exit during January
There were murmurs that Rosenior could recall Sterling and reverse the decision made by predecessor Enzo Maresca. On Saturday, Sterling was not involved. It may be early to say a decision has been made.
Raheem Sterling in Chelsea action.
Photo by Eddie Keogh/Getty Images
It could be that Rosenior intends to re-establish Sterling as a Chelsea player, yet he is lacking fitness. It remains up in the air, with Napoli the latest club suggested as a possible suitor for the England ace.
According to TeamTalk, Sterling remains ‘desperate’ to leave Chelsea after what has been a dismal spell in West London. It is even reported that Sterling is now willing to go further afield than England’s capital.
What Chelsea sources are saying about Newcastle move
It is quite easy to imagine a move to Newcastle for Sterling. Eddie Howe has signed England players while manager on Tyneside, bringing in Aaron Ramsdale, Callum Wilson, Tino Livramento and plenty more.
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Raheem Sterling, Mykhailo Mudryk and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang all have to be contenders…
Chelsea's Raheem Sterling celebrates scoring his side's first goal with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
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Anthony Gordon is Newcastle’s first-choice winger, another Howe signing, while Harvey Barnes is on fire. But Newcastle remain fighting on four fronts, facing Man City in the Carabao Cup semi-finals this week.
TeamTalk also reports that murmurs of a Newcastle move for Sterling have surfaced, but sources state that a potential move to the North East for Sterling is wide of the mark. He won’t be joining Newcastle.
As things stand, the clubs interested in Sterling this month remain as West Ham, Fulham and Napoli with Conte often looking towards the Premier League for additions. An exit does feel more and more likely.
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