Raheem Sterling’s time at Chelsea is as good as over, but finding a suitor willing to offer him an escape route at Stamford Bridge is proving difficult given the obstacles.
Back in 2022, Chelsea spent the best part of £50m to sign Sterling from Man City. It was seen as a coup at the time for Chelsea but fast forward until now, and Sterling has been one of Chelsea’s worst-ever buys.
Ousted from the Premier League squad by Enzo Maresca, any hints of a reprieve under Liam Rosenior have been dashed. Rosenior confirmed that Chelsea are in talks with Sterling over his next career move.
Sterling has been linked with a handful of Premier League clubs, including West Ham and Fulham, with the winger understood to prefer to remain in London, and leave Chelsea permanently to gain stability.
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But an alternative, at least for the next six months, has been bubbling under the surface for Sterling, and it is one that he may feel he has to take. But Jadon Sancho, another failed Chelsea winger, could end that.
Earlier this month, it was reported that Sterling had emerged as a ‘wildcard’ option for Antonio Conte at Napoli. Conte’s men remain in the hunt for the Serie A title, but are nine points behind Inter Milan.
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That is, with a game in hand. Conte wants more attacking firepower out wide and Sterling is on the list for the former Chelsea gaffer. But the list is a long one and TuttoMercatoWeb claim Sancho is also an option.
Sancho might have scored his first goal for Aston Villa earlier in the week, but the strength of his loan at Villa is not certain and Napoli could organise a deal where they land the England star before the deadline.
Sancho, then, could play a part in Sterling’s hopes of a Chelsea exit before the deadline. Napoli have been the club linked most with Sterling and yet, his hopes of a move to Conte’s side may be dashed by Sancho.
Another former Chelsea winger is on Conte’s Napoli list
The list does not stop at just Sterling and Sancho, with Conte keen to give his side every chance of a race against Inter. Indeed, TMW state that another former Chelsea man is on the list, namely Jeremie Boga.
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Boga has had a hand in just four goals and assists in 20 games for Napoli this season and yet, he is also under consideration at Napoli. Real Betis’ Abde Ezzalzouli is also a player Conte and Napoli are looking at.
Whatever Conte and Napoli decide, they will have to move quickly with time moving fast ahead of the deadline. Less than a week remains in the January window and certainly, things are starting to hot up.
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