Though some fans may not even realise this, Raheem Sterling is still on the books at Chelsea. The former England international was one of Thomas Tuchel’s marquee signings in 2022, but it turned out to be a less-than-optimal decision to move for Manchester City man.
There have been plenty of unpopular transfers in Blues history, and Sterling is up there with them because of the money he’s being paid to not even play. Because Chelsea need to consider financial fair-play constraints, Sterling is making it harder for them to bring in the big players they desperately need to progress.
Big Contract Means Chelsea Can’t Splash on Other Forwards
One of the big reasons why Chelsea aren’t challenging for the title this term is due to a lack of serious firepower in the attacking positions. The Blues will be looking enviously at teams like Arsenal, who splashed over £130 million on Viktor Gyökeres and Eberechi Eze in the summer.
The Gunners are leading the lead at the halfway point, and are favourites to win in most games. Indeed, the Everton vs Arsenal betting, for instance, is heavily skewed in favour of Mikel Arteta’s men. According to the football betting odds online, Arsenal can be backed at 1/5 to win the Premier League this season. Even though Gyökeres and Eze haven’t been key to their success, these additions have improved the depth in the squad and provided more options.
Enzo Maresca wasn’t able to bring in all the proven players he wanted to go for in the summer and had to work with a young squad. Ultimately, after half the season was played, it was clear that these players didn’t have enough to mount a title challenge.
This resulted in Maresca’s sacking, but Sterling could have been part of the problem. The 31-year-old is the highest-paid player on Chelsea’s books, raking in a whopping £325,000 per week. If the Blues can clear this from their wage bill, it would free up a lot of funds to pay other new signings while ensuring that they are operating within financial fair play rules.
Sterling’s Glory Days are Long Behind Him
When Chelsea signed Sterling, there were question marks about whether it was a good deal or not. The pacey winger had fallen out of favour with Pep Guardiola at Manchester City, suggesting that the Spaniard thought he was on the decline. Despite an unceremonious end to his career with the Citizens, Sterling racked up 91 goals in 225 league appearances and won the title four times.
Tuchel believed that Sterling was exactly what he needed for his system at Chelsea, which relied on fast wingers who want to get in behind defences. He started off well, but unfortunately for the player, the German tactician was dismissed early in the season and replaced with Graham Potter. Potter’s tactics were different, and Sterling never clicked with the English manager.
At Stamford Bridge, Sterling made 59 appearances in the league with 14 goals, but never managed to find his footing. He was sent out on loan to Arsenal last season, where he only played 17 times and registered no goals. The player is reportedly making things difficult for the club as well, stating that he only wants to leave on a permanent deal and doesn’t want another loan spell.
It’s unfortunate that Sterling’s career has reached this point, as he was once one of the hottest talents in the country. He was an England regular, with 82 showings for the Three Lions. Now, however, he is a thorn in Chelsea’s side and a hugely expensive player to have sitting on the sidelines.
