Raheem Sterling is reportedly open to finding a new club after accepting that his Chelsea career is over.

Sterling’s Chelsea future was thrown into doubt when he was left out of Enzo Maresca’s squad for their Premier League curtain-raiser against Manchester City, prompting his camp to seek “clarity” from the Blues on his situation. According to the Standard, the 29-year-old now accepts that his Stamford Bridge career is over, having also been excluded from the squad for Thursday’s Europa Conference League play-off first leg against Servette.

The report adds that the winger will listen to proposals from other clubs before next Friday’s transfer deadline. But shifting him might be easier said than done; Sterling has three years remaining on his £300,000-per-week contract and, with his young family settled in west London, won’t be forced into a move that doesn’t suit him. Interest from Saudi Arabia has already been rejected by the former Manchester City star.

Maresca informed Sterling in a conversation after training on Friday that Chelsea are prioritising other players in his position and that he could leave. This is despite the head coach admitting publicly that he wanted the England international to stay.

Sterling finds himself in limbo for now. Juventus want to sign the former Liverpool forward but his hefty wages are proving problematic, and that’s likely to be the case for a number of interested parties. The winger isn’t the only Chelsea player whose future needs resolving before next week’s deadline.

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