Raheem Sterling’s Chelsea future has been called into question yet again after being left out of their squad to face Servette.
It is is the second game in a row that Sterling has been axed by Enzo Maresca after being omitted from the Italian’s matchday squad that lost 2-0 to Manchester City on Sunday.
It led to the 29-year-old’s team releasing a statement ahead of Chelsea’s defeat, where they demanded talks to seek ‘clarity’ over his future.
And with just ten days left in the summer transfer window, the England international may have just got his answer.
That is because he has been omitted from Chelsea‘s A-list submitted to UEFA for their Europa Conference League play-off first leg in west London.
Maresca’s decision comes after he declared he still wants Sterling at Chelsea following the club’s opening day loss.
Summer signing Tosin Adarabioyo was also not included in the squad, along with fellow defenders Wesley Fofana and Ben Chilwell.
Chilwell, like Sterling, is also facing an uncertain future at Chelsea, with Maresca already stating the left-back is free to leave.
Though skipper Reece James – back after a minor injury knock – has been named in the squad.
Maresca is due to hold a press conference on Wednesday where he is likely to face questions regarding his high-profile omissions.
And talkSPORT presenter Flex believes Chelsea’s decision to leave Sterling out is a clear sign they are trying to force him out.
Speaking on the Transfer Insiders Show, he said: “They’re trying to force him out, that’s how it’s coming across.
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“He was one of the first – if not the first if I’m not mistaken – signings in this Clearlake era.
“And being put on the big wages that he was, actually it goes against what their model now is.
“They’ve pivoted from that in terms of having lower wages and nine-year contracts.
“The truth of the matter is that Chelsea have created this environment, whereby it was only a matter of time.
“I’m surprised it wasn’t Conor Gallagher with his treatment, I’m surprised it wasn’t a player before.
“I’m not condoning the timing of [Sterling’s] statement just before kick-off, I understand all that, it’s not ideal.
“But here is a senior player who has been given assurances up until some point and has been led to believe that he’s going to be involved.
“And when you have this amount of players on your books to keep happy, do I sympathise with the manager a little bit? Of course.
“He can’t keep everyone happy I understand that, but this was only a matter of time before something was going to combust and explode.
“And it just happens that it’s Raheem Sterling now, he’s a highly decorated player, a really senior player who’s looking at this and saying, ‘I’m better than this.’
“And I know Chelsea fans can push back and say, ‘Since he’s come to Chelsea, he hasn’t been that great,’ I get that, but when you look at his role within the squad, he’s seen as an older figure there.
“He’s going to look at it and say, ‘I’m being disrespected here, look at what’s happening to Conor Gallagher as well, it’s a total mess,’ and I don’t blame him.”
