Raheem Sterling edges towards Chelsea exit as odds slashed for shock January move

Raheem Sterling appears to be edging towards an unexpected escape route from Chelsea before the end of the January window.

The winger has been part of the ‘bomb squad’ at Stamford Bridge since Enzo Maresca’s appointment in the summer of 2024, and his situation is showing few signs of changing at all under Liam Rosenior.

Rosenior is set to hold discussions with Sterling over his future, but the new boss has yet to include him in a matchday squad since his arrival on 7 January.

The 31-year-old hasn’t played a minute of Premier League action for the Blues all season, and speculation has been swirling consistently in recent weeks over where he could potentially end up by the end of the winter window.

Odds cut for Raheem Sterling to join Napoli

Former Everton and Aston Villa chief executive Keith Wyness recently told Football Insider that Fulham is the most likely move for Sterling when it comes to the possibility of a Premier League switch before the 2 February deadline.

The likes of Leeds United, Newcastle and West Ham have all been linked with the former England international, but all look unlikely to make a move for him at this stage.

Fulham are also seen as the most likely domestic candidates by the bookmakers, although one major company have now lengthened the Cottagers’ odds of securing a deal to 13/8.

However, Sterling could yet be edging towards a move to Napoli, as the Italian giants continue to show an interest in the Chelsea outcast.

Antonio Conte’s side are seemingly seeing their chances of landing the star increase as we near the end of the window, and they have now seen their odds slashed to 5/1 on Sunday.

What has Sterling said about leaving Chelsea to play abroad?

Former Manchester City financial advisor Stefan Borson recently told Football Insider that he wonders whether there is any demand for Sterling, given that the January window is over two weeks old and he is still at Stamford Bridge.

That certainly appears to be the case when it comes to clubs elsewhere in the Premier League, but Napoli could potentially represent the ideal escape route for the wideman, and it is one that he would be willing to take based on his previous comments.

Sterling told GQ back in 2019 that it had been a “dream” of his to play abroad when he was young, and he may now be handed the perfect opportunity to fulfil that career goal.

The former Manchester City star won virtually everything there is to win in English football during his time at the Etihad Stadium, and the opportunity to go down a different pathway later in his career could be too good to refuse.

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