Sourced article names “European clubs” as potential destination for Chelsea’s expensive problem

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Sourced article names “European clubs” as potential destination for Chelsea’s expensive problem

Chelsea and Arsenal face off at the Emirates today, making it a natural time to check in on one of the connections that exists between the two clubs right now – Raheem Sterling. That’s exactly what the Athletic have done today.

The winger is on loan at the Emirates from Chelsea after a deadline day deal, but things have not gone to plan. It became clear early last summer that he wasn’t going to be wanted or needed at Chelsea, and like so many others he was shipped out to whoever would take him – in this case a temporary move to North London.

But things haven’t worked out for Raheem, or for Chelsea. They’d like to see the winger shine in order to make selling him easier, but instead he’s struggled for minutes even with Mikel Arteta’s team heavily depleted in attack in the last couple of months.

Sterling had just 5 starts before 2024 became 2025. He’s started consecutive games once all season, with 307 minutes in total in the league. That’s less action than anyone would have predicted.

European teams allegedly interest – but major problem remains​

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Mikel Arteta and Raheem Sterling with an Arsenal logo. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)

The real question is what happens next. The Athletic piece claims that the Blues are “planning to find a permanent solution” to Sterling’s saga in the summer, and they do not want to just loan him out year after year. But that may well be easier said than done.

Saudi Arabia is the usual escape hatch for Premier League clubs in this position, but it’s pointed out that “finding a team in Europe could be a possibility.”

As ever, the major issue is Sterling’s wages. They mean that, even if a team is willing to pay Chelsea enough of a fee, the winger will have to accept a huge drop in his wages if he wants to go. That massively limits our options – and makes selling Sterling permanently look very difficult.

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