- EXCLUSIVE from Graeme Bailey
HITC Football understands Chelsea are planning to move on from a number of big names this summer and Raheem Sterling is one of those who does not have a long-term future at Stamford Bridge.
At 29, Raheem Sterling was one of the first big captures of the Todd Boehly era and helped prove they meant business.
The multiple Premier League title-winner, who started his career at Liverpool, moved to Chelsea from Manchester City for a transfer fee of £47.5 million in 2022.
The England international would then watch his former side win a historic Treble, whilst his team endured a bitterly disappointing 12th-placed finish in the Premier League.
However, since Chelsea have built up a new footballing department with fellow co-owner Behdad Eghbali taking a more hands-on approach in the past 12 months.
The club’s approach is to go with youth and Raheem Sterling does not fit in that plan.
HITC understands they will look to move the versatile forward on this summer – although it remains to be seen how keen he will be to leave given how settled he is in London since his move.
As HITC revealed, they are not planning to keep Thiago Silva, and both he and Raheem Sterling are not part of the direction the club is taking.
Thiago Silva and Raheem Sterling under Mauricio Pochettino
Thiago Silva’s current deal expires in the summer, but he has still been used by Mauricio Pochettino, starting the 3-1 win over Crystal Palace on Monday night, but he did have to go off injured in the second half.
Despite the likelihood of Sterling leaving, he has still been used quite frequently by his manager.
There have been 19 Premier League starts for the speedster this season, as he has scored five goals and supplied six assists from his 22 league games.
Not forgetting that he has also played a key role in the team reaching the League Cup final where they will face Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool on February 25.
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