Chelsea will reportedly consider loan offers for attacking outcast Raheem Sterling before the summer transfer window slams shut.
The 30-year-old has returned to Stamford Bridge following a failed loan spell with London rivals Arsenal last season, where he only managed one goal and five assists in 28 appearances for the Gunners across all competitions.
Sterling is under contract at Chelsea for another two seasons, but he is surplus to requirements under Enzo Maresca and was unsurprisingly not involved in Sunday's 0-0 draw with Crystal Palace on the opening Premier League weekend.
The former Liverpool and Manchester City attacker's future evidently lies away from Stamford Bridge, where all of Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, Pedro Neto, Estevao Willian, Cole Palmer and Tyrique George are ahead of him in the attacking pecking order.
Furthermore, the Blues are still working on a deal to sign Xavi Simons from RB Leipzig, and Manchester United outcast Alejandro Garnacho is also giving priority to the Club World Cup champions.
Chelsea 'refuse to rule out' Sterling loan exit
Arsenal's Raheem Sterling pictured on September 15, 2024
According to The Telegraph, Chelsea would not be completely averse to loaning Sterling out for a second successive season, although the Blues would ideally prefer a permanent sale within the next couple of weeks.
The 30-year-old is supposedly keen to continue in the Premier League and more specifically London - where he and his family are happy - and he could be given the chance to remain in the capital by Chelsea's near neighbours Fulham.
However, the Cottagers would almost certainly not be in a position to fork out his full salary of over £300,000 per week, so Chelsea would likely need to pay a portion of that sum if he moves to Marco Silva's side on loan, or he would need to accept a significant reduction for a permanent exit.
While Sterling has been ostracised from the main Chelsea group, the report claims that he remains 'positive and professional', and there is optimism from all sides that he will find the right move for his career within the next fortnight.
Sterling has contributed 19 goals and 15 assists from 81 appearances for Chelsea across all competitions since his 2022 arrival from Man City, who received £48.6m for the winger's sale three years ago.
Sterling 'one of eight players' on Chelsea chopping block
Christopher Nkunku for Chelsea on December 19, 2024
The erstwhile Liverpool starlet is believed to be just one of eight players whom Chelsea are planning to offload before the September 1 deadline, and fellow winger George is also among the group of fringe performers who could depart.
While the 19-year-old enjoyed a breakthrough campaign last year, he was an unused substitute against Palace at the weekend and is understood to be open to moving to a club where he will be guaranteed regular game time.
Christopher Nkunku, Nicolas Jackson, Renato Veiga, Axel Disasi, Carney Chukwuemeka and Ben Chilwell will also be allowed to leave either on loan or permanently if the right opportunity presents itself; the former is still being heavily linked with a move to Bayern Munich.
Two other clubs are also said to have joined the race to sign Nkunku, including one Premier League rival and a recent Champions League finalist.
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