Chelsea winger Raheem Sterling wants to go permanently after being frozen out by Enzo Maresca, who denies treating him “brutally”.
If Axel Disasi leaves a year after joining Chelsea, the manager may sign a new centre-back. Chelsea is expected to clear out before the transfer market closes next week.
Sterling, who has not trained since being benched against Manchester City on Sunday, is willing to collaborate with the club to find a solution after falling behind Pedro Neto and João Félix.
On Thursday, the former Manchester City winger will miss the opening leg of the Europa Conference League qualifier against Servette at Stamford Bridge.
He does not want to go on loan or to Saudi Arabia. He has three years left on a £325,000-a-week contract and is open to departing permanently after joining Ben Chilwell in a group of 15 senior players not in the club’s future.
Chelsea continue to pursue sales and loans despite Conor Gallagher’s Wednesday transfer to Atlético Madrid. Maresca is frustrated by criticism that he has a 42-player squad.
Trevoh Chalobah, Kepa Arrizabalaga, and Romelu Lukaku are practicing with the development group, while Maresca said he has been frank with Sterling and Chilwell, who are unlikely to play for the former Leicester boss this season.
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“I try to be honest with all of them in this moment, the noise is from outside,” Chelsea’s coach added. More than 15 players train apart from the team.
Before the Manchester City game, I spoke with Raheem. I predicted he would battle for minutes with us. I mentioned Chilly is kind, but his position will make it hard for him to work with us. Honest, not cruel. I deal with 21 players, not 42. It’s not messy as it appears.”
Given Sterling’s salary, Chelsea may hard to sell him. The club may sell the 29-year-old for financial reasons, according to sources. Juventus are interested in the former Liverpool player, who lost his Chelsea No. 7 shirt to Neto.
Even with Félix, Chelsea are expected to continue their busy summer. Maresca wants to recruit a striker, possibly Napoli’s Victor Osimhen, and may make changes in central defense.
Chelsea has six senior centre-backs, but Chalobah is for sale and Disasi is not Maresca’s long-term plan. Disasi, who missed pre-season after hernia surgery, has struggled since joining Monaco for £38.5m last year.
Newcastle is interested. The France international, who made 44 appearances last season, has struggled handling the ball. The season’s role of Benoît Badiashile is likewise uncertain.
Levi Colwill and Wesley Fofana are Maresca’s first-choice centre-backs, with Tosin Adarabioyo as the backup.
After recovering from a significant knee injury, Fofana must be treated cautiously, and a new centre-back who can compete and prosper in Maresca’s possession-based system may arrive.
Chelsea must trade their outcasts quickly. In the absence of serious interest in Chilwell, Carney Chukwuemeka is expected to leave.
While David Datro Fofana, Öngelo Gabriel, and Djordje Petrovic are available, Noni Madueke’s situation is questionable, and Armando Broja is expected to join Ipswich on loan for £30m if they remain up.
The 21-year-old defender Bashir Humphreys joins Burnley on loan with a £12m buyout.
