Raheem Sterling was among several England stars who shone at Euro 2020, but five years on and they are facing uncertain futures with transfers away perhaps the best thing for them
Raheem Sterling has not played this season at Chelsea
Raheem Sterling has not played this season at Chelsea(Image: OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images)
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The winger has endured a miserable spell since signing from Manchester City in 2022 and was frozen out under Enzo Maresca. Liam Rosenior is now in the hotseat and he's already admitted he will need to have a discussion with the Englishman sooner rather than later.
Sterling's form at Stamford Bridge has not justified a recall and the quality available to Rosenior means there is no guarantee that Sterling would even get into the starting XI, but clarity is needed on both sides.
The winger has Napoli weighing up a move, according to Sky in Italy, but the player himself would rather stay in England where his family are settled. Sterling was once among the Premier League's top performers, excelling under the guidance of Pep Guardiola in Manchester.
With England he was a shining light, scoring match winners at Euro 2020. Now he's nowhere near the Three Lions picture, he's nowhere near the Chelsea picture. A fresh start may be beneficial for all involved, even if it means making some difficult decisions.
Sterling is one of a number of players who turned out that night at Wembley against Italy, coming agonisingly close to ending the country's wait for a major trophy. Some of their age profiles would suggest they are approaching, or would be in, the absolute peaks of their careers. Instead, just getting onto the pitch is hard for some.
Kalvin Phillips was on top of the world during Euro 2020
Kalvin Phillips was on top of the world during Euro 2020(Image: Getty Images)
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He made the move, but taking on Rodri at the base of Guardiola's midfield was always going to be a daunting task. And so a player who looked so at ease in the final of a Euros is now in danger of becoming a forgotten man. Loan spells at West Ham and Ipswich have done little to reignite his career.
Phillips has more than two years left on his contract in Manchester but is another man who must think that the Euro 2020 final feels like a lifetime ago.
Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford are both likely to depart Old Trafford
Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford are both likely to depart Old Trafford(Image: Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images)
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Sancho had signed for the Red Devils 10 days prior to that Euros final. He arrived off the back of several stunning years in Germany with Borussia Dortmund, where goals and assists were weekly occurrences. At Manchester they have eluded him and he's been sent back to the Bundesliga, out to Chelsea and now is playing a squad role at Aston Villa.
England never saw the player Dortmund did - and neither did Old Trafford. At 25 he has a decade at the top if he can ever rediscover his top form, but that will certainly be away from United after a £70million move that failed to work out.
Rashford's future equally lies away from Manchester. That was a decision taken by Ruben Amorim, but one the club look to have stuck by even after his exit. The danger for United is that their academy graduate goes on to be a huge hit elsewhere, possibly Barcelona. His form in Spain currently means that a spot in England's World Cup squad this summer is not out of the question.
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