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News, Blog and GuidesThe winger has been heavily questioned recently for his performances, and now it seems that MLS could be a way out of London.
Joe Brennanj4brennanUpdate: Mar 19th, 2024 10:09 EDT0
Dylan MartinezREUTERS
Reports suggest that Raheem Sterling’s future may lie away from Premier League club Chelsea, with MLS and Saudi Arabia said to be ready to tempt the winger into a move.
The English forward, who began his career at Queens Park Rangers, has played for Chelsea since 2022 after a move from Manchester City for around $50 million. However, his time in London has not gone as hoped; a mixture of wobbly circumstances at the club have surrounded Stamford Bridge since he arrived, and he himself has suffered on the pitch.
MLS has embarked on a process of development over recent years: the arrival of Lionel Messi to the league, as well as his world-class Inter Miami teammates, seem to have opened the door for many others to follow. The same goes for Saudi Arabia, a country that has spent big on many players, with the Premier League a particular favourite hunting ground.
Keep moving forward ⏩ pic.twitter.com/rdIIaLY1xb
— Raheem Sterling (@sterling7) February 17, 2024
Talks have taken place between Chelsea and the Saudi Pro League
Journalist Graeme Bailey reported that Chelsea’s owners are “determined to move him on” and “talks have taken place between Chelsea and the Saudi Pro League, with Al-Hilal one of those interested”. The London club sold both Kalidou Koulibaly and Edouard Mendy to the Middle East last summer.
However, the report also suggests that the SPL does not appeal to Sterling, who has a contract with Chelsea until 2027.
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Sterling was booed by Chelsea fans during the FA Cup tie against Leicester.GLYN KIRKAFP
Could Raheem Sterling go to MLS?
It seems that MLS, however, is not the same for Sterling. Back in 2019, the winger, who was booed by some of the Chelsea crowd last Sunday after he was taken off during their 4-2 win over Leicester in the FA Cup, said that “English football has grown massively over [in the US]. It wasn’t like that in the past, and it’ll continue to get bigger.”
