Raheem Sterling has Man Utd redemption chance as Chelsea prepare offer

Manchester United could be the unlikely setting for Raheem Sterling to revitalise his career with the Chelsea outcast now looking certain to leave the club. Sterling has been exiled by new manager Enzo Maresca, having not been involved in any of the club’s three matchday squads this season.

He’s also been stripped of the No.7 shirt, with that jersey now handed to summer signing Pedro Neto.

And Maresca revealed the former England star is in a group of around 20 players currently training away from the first team.

The 29-year-old still has three years left on the five year deal he signed after joining from Manchester City in 2022, and can technically sit on his £300,000-a-week contract. But after being left out of the England squad for Euro 2024, Sterling now has little choice but to move if he is to reignite his international aspirations.

And now Only Trafford has emerged as a surprise destination. Chelsea continued to be linked with a swoop for Jadon Sancho, with Juventus seemingly reluctant to meet United’s asking price for the player.

According to Sky Sports Italy, both Sterling and Ben Chilwell are now being considered as swap options in Chelsea’s bid. The left-back has also been told he can leave the club by Maresca, having missed the bulk of the previous campaign with injury.

Given his previous stints with Liverpool and Manchester City, Sterling choosing to wear a United shirt would inevitably divide opinion. But he may be left with few other options if he is to continue his Premier League career.

And United could offer him the perfect platform to prove he’s not past his best having been one of the division’s most effective forwards at his last two clubs before struggling to hit the same heights for Chelsea.

Sterling responded to being left out of his side’s opening game of the season against his former club by releasing a controversial statement through his representatives. They said the player would be seeking ‘clarity’ on the situation, but Maresca has since publicly admitted the 123-goal Premier League player is not in his plans.

He said: “I spoke with Raheem, one-on-one the day before City and I explained him exactly the situation. I didn’t see Raheem after the game. In this moment, they (Sterling and Ben Chilwell) are training apart. The situation with them both is quite clear. There is not any update on their situations.

“In case I sit with Raheem, I will tell him exactly the same things that I already told him. I don’t have anything new to tell him because I was quite clear.”

Sterling has made 81 club appearances since arriving in London, scoring 19 times. However, he’s been widely perceived to have underperformed since his move, failing to hit the heights he reached under Pep Guardiola at City.