Enzo Maresca warns Raheem Sterling over Manchester United as Chelsea star gets stuck in mud | Football | Sports

Enzo Maresca has stressed that Raheem Sterling will not rejoin Chelsea even if he remains a Blues player once the transfer window closes on Friday. The winger has been training alone for a fortnight after being informed that he is not part of Maresca’s plans.

Sterling has been encouraged to look for a new club before Friday’s deadline but there are several obstacles that could prevent him leaving. Manchester United, Aston Villa and Crystal Palace have all been talked about, although a move to either of the Premier League’s bottom two sides is unlikely.

Sterling is being considered to remain at Chelsea beyond the summer transfer window, but Maresca has insisted there is no way the England international will return to the first team.

The Italian said: “I have said it many times, he is a fantastic person. The only thing is that every coach has a different idea. He is not the type of winger I like.”

“That says nothing about Raheem. History and numbers speak for him. All the players who are training separately before the transfer window closes will not play.”

Sterling is one of at least 13 players training outside of Chelsea’s first team. A brutal reduction in players has forced Maresca to reduce his squad to around 22 players in an attempt to avoid working with too large a group, a problem experienced by his predecessors.

Ben Chilwell and Trevoh Chalobah are other members of what has been dubbed the club’s “bomb squad”. So was Conor Gallagher before the midfielder completed his move to Atletico Madrid earlier this season.

It has been suggested that Manchester United could be a possible destination for Sterling. However, that move is looking increasingly unlikely, with Jadon Sancho (who was mentioned as part of a potential blockbuster deal) said to be joining Juventus.

A major hurdle that could pose a risk to Sterling’s exit is his wages, which are estimated at £325,000 a week. The former Manchester City striker still has three years left on his contract and is therefore owed more than £45m.

There is a chance that Chelsea will owe Sterling a significant compensation fee if he joins a club on drastically reduced terms. It is unlikely that any European club would be willing to match the fee he earns at Stamford Bridge.