Raheem Sterling’s future is set to be one of the key storylines in the final two days of the summer transfer window. Exiled and stripped of his shirt number at Chelsea, the winger has been told to find a new club by head coach Enzo Maresca but there are several hurdles that must be overcome.
A failure to find a new team could result in Sterling remaining a Chelsea player but finding himself banished from Maresca’s first-team squad. The Italian has emphasised that the 29-year-old will not be reintegrated even if he remains at the club beyond the end of the transfer window.
Manchester United are reportedly a possible destination for Sterling but the Red Devils are prioritising a £50million transfer for Manuel Ugarte. Aston Villa and Crystal Palace expressed an interest but are unlikely to make a move before the Premier League’s deadline on Friday.
The good news for Sterling is that he can still leave Chelsea even after the English window closes. That is because a number of countries’ clubs will remain active in the market for a little while longer.
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Premier League teams can sell players after Friday evening providing the buying club’s window remains open. For instance, the Portuguese window will remain open for a further three days, closing on September 2.
That poses the possibility of a switch to a European giant such as Benfica or Porto. Sterling may view one of those clubs as a challenge worth accepting and the opportunity to taste a new league could be enticing.
The Turkish Super Liga is another European league which has a transfer window remaining open beyond England’s. Turkish teams have spent vast sums of money on high-profile players in recent years and may be able to tempt Sterling.
In a remarkable title race, Galatasaray won the league with 102 points last season, beating the extremely unfortunate Fenerbahce who finished second despite amassing 99 points. Sterling would be joining a strong league with plenty of competition.
Turkey’s transfer window closes on September 13, giving clubs plenty of time to complete a move for Sterling if they wish to do so.
Alternatively, there is the natural lure of the Saudi Pro League. Sterling has been loosely linked with clubs in the Middle East but has reportedly shown little interest in such a move at this stage of his career. That stance may change the longer he remains at Chelsea, though.
The Saudi transfer window closes on September 7.
