Out-of-favour Chelsea duo Axel Disasi and Raheem Sterling are reportedly likely to remain at the West London club until the winter transfer window.
According to a report by Football Insider, Axel Disasi and Raheem Sterling are not in the long-term plans at Chelsea after Enzo Maresca placed them in the “bomb squad” during the summer transfer window. However, the out-of-favour duo has rejected moves to several clubs, leaving themselves stranded at Stamford Bridge.
While the summer transfer window remains open in Saudi Arabia, a move to the Saudi Pro League is not on the cards for the out-of-favour duo. Instead, Disasi and Sterling will likely remain at Stamford Bridge until the transfer window reopens in January.
Raheem Sterling was once among the best players in the world, but he has been a pale shadow of his best version since joining Chelsea from Manchester City in July 2022. While the 30-year-old English attacker showed flashes of brilliance in his first two seasons, Enzo Maresca assigned him to the “bomb squad” last summer before he endured a disastrous loan spell with Arsenal.
On the other hand, Axel Disasi has been with Chelsea since arriving from AS Monaco in August 2023. While the French international enjoyed some solid phases during his spell thus far with the West London club, he gradually fell in the pecking order before Chelsea loaned him to Aston Villa earlier this year. However, like Sterling, Disasi has returned to Chelsea after an underwhelming loan stint.
It is hardly surprising that Raheem Sterling and Axel Disasi already knew they had no future at Chelsea when the summer transfer window opened. However, while the latter rejected Crystal Palace and West Ham United, among others, Sterling had barely any market throughout the summer transfer window.
Updates on deadline day of the summer transfer window revealed that Fulham ruled out a late move for the English international. That did not deter Chelsea, as the West London club wanted to sell Sterling and Disasi to clubs in Turkiye and Saudi Arabia. While the window remains open for Saudi Pro League clubs, Turkish Super Lig outfits cannot sign any more players.
Saudi Pro League clubs can still sign players until September 23, and Chelsea will hope clubs present offers in the next two weeks. However, Sterling and Disasi will likely remain at Stamford Bridge in the first half of the 2025/26 season.