With less than two weeks of the summer transfer window remaining, Raheem Sterling's future at Chelsea has been called into question following a controversial statement from his representatives.
After being left out of the England squad for Euro 2024, Sterling returned to Chelsea training early ahead of pre-season to link up with new head coach Enzo Maresca.
The 29-year-old was involved in all six of the Blues' pre-season friendlies and it was widely expected that he would feature in some capacity against his former club Manchester City on the opening weekend of the new Premier League season.
However, Sterling was surprisingly left out of Chelsea's matchday squad by Maresca, who watched his Blues side lose 2-0 to the reigning Premier League champions on home soil on Sunday.
The news of Sterling's omission sparked a response from the attacker's representatives, who released a controversial statement shortly before kickoff questioning the player's absence and seeking "clarity on the situation".
Maresca, who selected Cole Palmer, Nicolas Jackson, Christopher Nkunku, Mykhaylo Mudryk, Noni Madueke and summer signing Pedro Neto ahead of Sterling, said after the match that it was nothing more than "a technical decision" to leave the England international out of his squad.
However, the Italian later suggested that Chelsea's No.7 may have to leave the club before the transfer window shuts on August 30, due to the size of his first-team squad.
With that in mind, Sports Mole takes a look at five potential destinations for Sterling should he indeed leave Stamford Bridge this summer.
JUVENTUS
Sterling has been a transfer target for Serie A giants Juventus throughout this summer according to Sky Italia reporter Gianluca Di Marzio, and they are said to have approached Chelsea with an offer last week.
Juve have allegedly proposed a swap deal for Sterling which would see Federico Chiesa - now deemed surplus to requirements under new boss Thiago Motta - head to Stamford Bridge.
As things stand, there are discrepancies between both clubs over the valuation of the two players, while Sterling's wages are believed to be a stumbling block for Juve, as the Englishman is earning around twice as much as what Chiesa pockets in Turin.
It remains to be seen whether Sterling would be interested in a potential move to Juventus, but in 2021 - prior to leaving Man City - he admitted that "maybe one day I'd love to play abroad and see how I would come up against that challenge."
PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN
Another European giant who could look to sign Sterling are Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain, who have previously held an interest in Manchester United duo Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho, the latter of whom is believed to be among their targets this summer.
PSG have begun a new era without their all-time leading goalscorer Kylian Mbappe, who has joined Real Madrid, and head coach Luis Enrique has since made just the one attack-minded addition following the Frenchman's departure - signing Desire Doue from Rennes for an initial €50m.
However, the serious ankle injury sustained by forward Goncalo Ramos, who is facing several months on the sidelines, could force PSG to rethink their transfer strategy and go all out for at least one more attacker before the transfer window closes.
PSG have been heavily linked with Napoli's Victor Osimhen, but he is also wanted by Chelsea, while the French giants are believed to have doubts over a move for Man United's Sancho, so a player of Sterling's calibre who boasts plenty of experience at the highest level could appeal to Enrique and co, if the price is right.
LIVERPOOL
Having now entered the prime years of his career, Sterling may decide that staying put in the Premier League is his best option, so could a return to former club Liverpool be on the cards?
Arne Slot is yet to make a single signing as Reds head coach since replacing Jurgen Klopp earlier this summer, but he has admitted that "it would be a surprise for all of us if we don't bring any players in" before the deadline.
Although Liverpool are believed to be prioritising the addition of a new centre-midfielder, the Reds could still make a move for a new forward this summer after allowing versatile youngster Fabio Carvalho to join Brentford on a permanent basis.
Liverpool were linked with Newcastle winger Anthony Gordon earlier this summer, but a move for the former Everton man has ultimately failed to materialise, so could Sterling be considered as an alternative? An unlikely one perhaps, but re-joining a club where he burst onto the scene and made 129 appearances between 2012 and 2015 could appeal to the attacker.
NEWCASTLE UNITED
Sterling's reported £325,000-a-week wages could prove to be an issue for most interested suitors, but one club who could afford to cover most of his current Chelsea salary are Saudi-backed Newcastle United.
The Magpies have generated around £70m from player sales so far this summer, doing just enough to avoid breaching the Premier League's Profit and Sustainability Rules from the previous 12-month cycle, and they are now planning to make at least one statement signing before the transfer window closes.
A centre-back signing is high on Eddie Howe's list of priorities, with Marc Guehi thought to be their main target, although they have recently been frustrated in negotiations with Crystal Palace and could therefore turn to cheaper alternatives.
If there is any money left in the bank, then Newcastle may also consider bolstering their attacking options and target a player such as Sterling, especially if winger Miguel Almiron were to leave the club amid interest from MLS and Saudi Arabia.
SAUDI ARABIA
Speaking of Saudi Arabia, that could also be considered a viable destination for Sterling should he decide to leave Chelsea this summer and seek a fresh challenge outside of Europe.
Al-Hilal, Al-Nassr, Al Ittihad and Al-Ahli are all backed by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund and they are arguably the only four teams in the world who have the finances to offer Sterling a significant wage rise to his already substantial earnings at Chelsea.
The big-spending quartet do not have to worry about Financial Fair Play regulations, as those constraints do not apply in the Saudi Pro League, and that could therefore play nicely into the hands of both Chelsea and Sterling when negotiating a potential deal.
Saudi Pro League chiefs remained determined to lure the world's biggest stars to the Middle East, and Sterling fits into that category, although it remains unknown as to whether the Englishman would be interested in such a move, one that the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar and Karim Benzema have taken in recent years.
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