Ben Chilwell Seals Chelsea Departure as Raheem Sterling's Future Hangs in the Balance
Ben Chilwell is poised to finalize a permanent switch from Chelsea to Strasbourg, according to reports, while Raheem Sterling remains in limbo regarding his future at the Blues.
Both Chilwell and Sterling, among Chelsea's top wage earners, have found themselves sidelined at Stamford Bridge, with hopes that permanent departures could be arranged for the duo. However, Transfer Deadline Day arrived with minimal advancement for either player.
Reports surfaced early that Chelsea were considering dispatching Chilwell to Strasbourg, but having already reached their loan limit with the French club, any transfer would need to be outright.
As the transfer window concluded, Fabrizio Romano verified that such an agreement had been reached, with Chilwell moving to Strasbourg on a two-year contract.
He is anticipated to fill the squad position of Ishé Samuels-Smith, who secured his own permanent transfer from Chelsea to Strasbourg earlier this summer but is now expected to join Swansea on a temporary basis.
No such resolution materialized for Sterling, however, as The Athletic reported there were no developments concerning the England winger.
Sterling was loaned to Arsenal last season but failed to leave a lasting mark, and demand for his services this year proved limited. Several London clubs showed interest, including Fulham, but the Cottagers eventually pursued other options with deals for Samu Chukwueze and Kevin.
As Chelsea's top earner on wages exceeding £300,000 ($405,000) per week, Sterling must now contemplate a potential move to another nation where the transfer market remains active.
Turkey's transfer window stays open until September 12, while Saudi Arabian clubs have an additional 11 days to complete transactions. Currently, however, Sterling is believed to have no interest in either destination. Adding complexity is the requirement that any move must be permanent since, with Nicolas Jackson close to joining Bayern Munich, Chelsea will have reached their international loan limit.