With Chelsea having more than 40 players in their senior squad heading into the 2024/25 Premier League season, there were always going to be some injuries to the matchday squad for their weekend opener against Manchester City.
One of those injured was the club's highest paid player, Raheem Sterling.
With no clear path to first-team football for the 29-year-old at Stamford Bridge, especially with Chelsea signing so many top players in the form of Joao Felix, it seems Sterling would be better served by taking his talents to a new club. this summer.
To give him a helping hand, we 90 min check out his options.
Playing alongside Eberechi Eze and Jean-Philippe Mateta and under manager Oliver Glasner looks like a good time.
You only need to take a quick look at Michael Olise's end of season stats for the 2023/24 season to see that.
There are a few reasons why this move is low on our list though:
1) It's hard to imagine Crystal Palace paying Sterling's wages.
2) Glasner already has his perfect right-back in Daichi Kamada, who was a favorite signing from Eintracht Frankfurt earlier in the summer.
Is it worth it? 3/10
Sterling was linked with a move to Fenerbahce before he was left out of the squad to face Manchester City last weekend.
A club looking for a big-name player to appease new manager Jose Mourinho is certainly checking it out, but failure to secure a safe passage to the UEFA Champions League qualifying rounds makes it unlikely.
Is it worth it? 4/10
Rumors have been rife in recent weeks about a possible 'multiple involuntary' transfer that would see Sterling join Juventus and Federico Chiesa join Chelsea.
In theory, that makes sense.
On the job, where Juventus are struggling to find money and can't afford to pay Sterling's wages, that's not the case.
Also, Juve are focusing on signing a cheaper option in Fiorentina's Nicolas Gonzalez instead.
Is it worth it? 5/10
From a club that can't afford Sterling's salary, to a whole league of clubs that can double it.
If money follows Sterling, then the Saudi Pro League is his move.
And honestly, with the likes of Aleksandar Mitrovic reportedly earning over £400k a week, we can't blame him for spending money either. It's crazy money after all.
Is it worth it? 7/10
Having missed out on signing Joao Felix (to Chelsea, at least), Aston Villa could consider signing Sterling to fill a void on the right side of their attack.
And, at this point in his career, it seems like the best move for Sterling if concrete talks start between clubs.
The opportunity to join a UEFA Champions League club where he would be treated as a star player would surely be hard to turn down.
Is it worth it? 8/10
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