Raheem Sterling has 'told' Chelsea what he will do if deadline day transfer is not completed

Raheem Sterling is at the centre of one of the dramas of deadline day after he was told he was surplus to requirements by Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca. The more than £47million signing has played a key role for the Blues over recent years but now finds himself cast aside, left to train with Chelsea’s now infamous ‘bomb squad’, which is made up of unwanted players.

Chelsea are hoping to shift many of those players before Friday night’s 11pm deadline, with Romelu Lukaku and Kepa Arrizabalaga already out, while deals need to be found for the likes of Sterling, Armando Broja and Trevoh Chalobah.

Sterling has made it clear that he is unhappy with Maresca’s position, with his representatives releasing a statement outlining their shock over the decision after the winger was involved in the club’s pre-season preparations in the USA.

Maresca has stood firm nonetheless, saying that he simply wants a “different kind of winger” to Sterling, and Chelsea are pushing to land Manchester United man Jadon Sancho ahead of the deadline. That deal would only make things more complicated for Sterling should he stay.

Sterling ‘tells’ Chelsea he will remain committed

The England international has been linked with a move to United should Sancho arrive, while Arsenal have also been tipped to make a loan approach late in the window. But if Chelsea cannot shift him, it seems the 29-year-old has told the club he will remain committed to the Blues and continue in his attempts to win back a starting role, even if he is not training with the first team.

Sky Sports reporter Kaveh Solhekol told The Boot Room: “Raheem Sterling will be fully committed to Chelsea if he does not leave the club on Friday – even if he has to train with the U23s. Sterling has been ready to consider any options which are presented to him by Chelsea but he has still not been involved in any conversations with clubs of interest. The 29-year-old has three years remaining on the Chelsea contract he signed two years ago. If Sterling is to move, it would be for purely sporting reasons.”