Chelsea still ‘hoping to sell’ duo this month

Chelsea’s transfer dealings remain in the spotlight, with reports from CaughtOffside’s Mark Brus confirming that the club are still working on moves to offload Raheem Sterling and Axel Disasi ahead of the Saudi Pro League deadline on 23 September.

Despite earlier approaches during the summer, both players remain at Stamford Bridge. Sterling was linked with Fulham, Besiktas, Bayer Leverkusen and Napoli, while Disasi attracted interest from West Ham, Bournemouth and Wolves. However, as Brus reports, “Sterling and Disasi remain available despite failing to agree moves away from Stamford Bridge in the summer.”

There is still some confidence within the Chelsea camp. “Chelsea are willing to negotiate, possibly for lower asking prices now,” a source told CaughtOffside. “At least one deal could go through before the winter window closes in Saudi Arabia.”

It appears clear that the pair are not central to Enzo Maresca’s vision. As one insider explained: “Sterling and Disasi are not in Enzo Maresca’s plans. The club would prefer permanent exits over loaning them out again.”

The desire for permanent sales reflects Chelsea’s long-term strategy of trimming down their oversized squad. With another summer of significant spending – including Joao Pedro, Liam Delap, Jamie Gittens, Estevao Willian, Jorrel Hato, and Alejandro Garnacho – there is an urgent need to balance the books and streamline options available to the manager.

Although Chelsea did manage to move on high-profile names such as Christopher Nkunku, Joao Felix, Noni Madueke, Kepa Arrizabalaga, and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, the failure to shift Sterling and Disasi underscores the challenge of resetting the squad.

The coming days will prove crucial. If the Saudi market provides an outlet, Chelsea could finally complete the squad restructuring they’ve been striving for since the summer.

From a Chelsea supporter’s perspective, this development raises mixed feelings. On one hand, the logic behind moving on both Sterling and Disasi is difficult to ignore. Neither has lived up to expectations, and as the article highlights, they are “not in Enzo Maresca’s plans.” That’s telling – if the new manager doesn’t see a role for them, keeping them around only adds to the wage bill and disrupts squad harmony.

Sterling’s case is particularly interesting. Many fans had high hopes when he arrived from Manchester City, but the reality is that his output has not matched his reputation. He has struggled with consistency, and with Chelsea’s emphasis on younger, more dynamic attacking options, it’s no surprise the club are actively seeking suitors. A move to Saudi could suit all parties – Sterling would secure a final big contract, while Chelsea would free up resources.

Disasi’s story is slightly different. He hasn’t been disastrous, but he hasn’t stood out either. With Chelsea investing heavily in defenders like Jorrel Hato, the writing seems to be on the wall. Supporters may feel a touch of sympathy here, as Disasi has shown flashes of quality, but ultimately he doesn’t look like the cornerstone of a title-challenging defence.

Overall, fans will likely view this as a necessary step. Chelsea’s transfer business has been relentless, and unless the squad is slimmed down, the club risk drifting into another season of imbalance. Offloading Sterling and Disasi to Saudi clubs won’t solve every issue, but it’s a move that makes sense for the club’s long-term vision.