Chelsea’s plan for Raheem Sterling set as they aim to avoid Man United problem

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TBR Football understands that Chelsea already have plans in place for Raheem Sterling after he has been pushed out of the first-team squad this season.

Sterling and Axel Disasi are currently training away from the first-team squad after Enzo Maresca deemed both players surplus to requirements.

The Chelsea boss has made it clear that neither man has a future at the football club, and their treatment has led to split opinions from the footballing world.

While Chelsea’s “bomb squad” isn’t new, as Ben Chilwell has previously been put in this situation, it was interesting for Disasi.

TBR Football understands that Disasi had opportunities to leave Chelsea, but he didn’t want to go to West Ham United. Crystal Palace were also interested, but the French international was picky about his future.

Exclusive: Chelsea’s plans for Raheem Sterling and Axel Disasi

Sterling has been the talk of the footballing world lately due to him training alone late into the evening, to the point that the PFA had to investigate the situation in more detail.

With his future no longer at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea have devised a plan and intend to move him on in January, sources have told TBR Football’s chief correspondent, Graeme Bailey.

“I think he [Disasi] maybe sees a situation like Chalobah or Hudson-Odoi, where he was bombed out but then came back into the mix at one point.

“So I think Disasi is probably just hoping injuries might push him back in, but we’re not seeing any sign of that at the moment.

“Sterling was a bit different. There were options there for him, Fulham, West Ham, Palace, because he only really wants to stay in London. But it didn’t quite work out.

“Fulham, for example, had other options; they almost took Tyrique George from Chelsea. So I think Sterling will move in the January window.

“I think he’ll realise that. There’s not much else he can do. With the set of moves available, he just didn’t fancy it. Sterling’s situation isn’t quite the same, but it is what it is.

“When you’ve got a bomb squad, that’s just football now. Look at [Manchester] United. They’re not the only team dealing with this sort of thing.”

Chelsea will be keen not to have a surplus of players like Manchester United

Manchester United found themselves in a tricky situation this past summer, with many players on the books who the club didn’t want.

Selling them proved difficult, so Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho were sent out on loan deals instead.

However, Chelsea are keen to avoid being in a similar situation with multiple players, which is why Sterling could be moved on during the January transfer window.

While he doesn’t want to leave London, Sterling may have to venture further afield if he wants to continue playing at a high level, depending on what’s available to him at the time.