Chelsea winger Raheem Sterling has reportedly been offered to a Premier League rival.
Having played some part in each of Chelsea's six pre-season fixtures, Sterling had been expected to feature in the squad for the opening fixture against Manchester City last weekend.
Instead, the 29-year-old was a surprise absentee, head coach Enzo Maresca having since revealed that he had informed the England international of his decision two days earlier.
In recent days, it has become clear that Sterling has no future at Stamford Bridge, Maresca reiterating at a press conference on Wednesday that the attacker would not be receiving any game time in the foreseeable future.
Although a report has suggested that Sterling will only leave Chelsea if a suitable offer arises, he has been left aware that his career risks being brought to a standstill if he stays in West London.
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Opportunities few and far between?
While Juventus have been credited with an interest in Sterling's signature, it is unclear whether the relevant parties would be able to find a compromise over wages.
Theoretically, there appears to be few realistic options in the Premier League, particularly at clubs who are competing in Europe in 2024-25.
Nevertheless, according to sports broadcaster Ben Jacobs, Villa have emerged as a potential option, albeit an unlikely one at the present time.
Speaking to the London Is Blue Podcast, Jacobs revealed that Villa have been monitoring developments with the former Manchester City star.
However, despite there said to have been formal talks, Villa are currently not expected to up their interest due to the overall cost of the deal, whether that be permanent or temporary.
In a separate report by David Ornstein of The Athletic, Sterling is said to prefer a full-time exit from Chelsea rather than accepting a loan proposal.
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What fee would Chelsea accept for Sterling?
With Sterling being two years into a five-year contract having cost £47.5m, Chelsea would need to generate a fee of £28.5m to break even from an amortisation standpoint.
As a result, a permanent departure appears unrealistic with so little time left in the transfer window, plausibly why Juventus have been keen to include Federico Chiesa in any proposal.
Chelsea are not in need of a direct alternative, though, and the most likely outcome is a short-term deal with a loan fee and wages covered.
That said, any interested clubs are aware that Chelsea cannot necessarily take a firm stance in negotiations given their desire to boost their position with the Premier League's Profit and Sustainability regulations in the process.
Darren Plant
