Raheem Sterling’s position at Chelsea has been made clear (Picture: Getty Images)
Enzo Maresca has reiterated that Raheem Sterling will not be playing for Chelsea this season even if he does not secure a move away from the club on transfer deadline day.
Sterling has been exiled from the first team squad at Stamford Bridge and is training with the other outcasts in what has been dubbed the ‘bomb squad’ with the likes of Ben Chilwell and Trevoh Chalobah.
The Blues are desperate to get rid of their unwanted players on deadline day, but they are on long contracts and very well paid, so it is not an easy thing to do, despite their quality.
Manchester United, Arsenal and Juventus have all been linked with moves for Sterling, but none will be willing to meet his current salary worth £325,000-per-week.
A deal could still be done for the England international before Friday’s transfer deadline, but if it isn’t, Maresca is clear that Sterling will not be playing for him until he does leave.
‘The only thing I can say is the ones who are going to get minutes are the ones who I think can help us,’ said the Blues boss on Thursday.
‘It’s not just Raheem. It’s all the players who are training apart. The moment the transfer window closes, they are not going to get minutes.’
Enzo Maresca is managing in unusual circumstances at Chelsea (Picture: Getty Images)
The Independent report that Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta would be very keen to bring Sterling in, but the club is not willing to pay a fee for him and the player would probably have to accept around half his current wages.
Arteta and Sterling worked together at Manchester City and the Spaniard feels he would be a great option across his forward line, including as much-needed back-up to Bukayo Saka.
Chelsea were in action on Thursday night in the Europa Conference League, without Sterling, and lost 2-1 to Swiss side Servette.
‘I think the first half an hour we scored a goal and had three or four more chances, and if we were able to score then the game was finished because it would have been 2-0,’ said Maresca.
Enzo Maresca and Tosin Adarabioyo on a frustrating night for Chelsea in Geneva (Picture: Getty Images)
‘And then we conceded a goal and it’s normal to suffer a little bit. I said yesterday, but I was very, very worried about this game because they are tricky games.
‘For them, it’s probably the game of their season. Against us, the pitch is not great, the environment, it’s 30 degrees and I was very worried about the condition of the game.
‘On and off the ball, the team was very aggressive. We created four or five chances in the first-half and if we score, the game is finished. Then it is football, they score and it’s a boost for them. But in the end, we deserved it, so we are happy.’
Chelsea progressed 3-2 on aggregate despite the loss, progressing to the group phase of the Europa Conference League.
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