Raheem Sterling wants to stay and fight for his place at Chelsea amid links to the Saudi Pro League, according to a report.
The winger joined the Blues in the summer of 2022 from Manchester City for a £47.5m transfer fee. However, he has struggled to replicate the form of his days at the Etihad Stadium
Sterling has most recently come in for intense criticism following his poor performance in Sunday’s 4-2 victory against Leicester City in round six of the FA Cup. Despite assisting Chelsea’s second goal, Sterling missed a penalty, skewed a shot wide when one-on-one with the goalkeeper and fired a free-kick from 20 yards horribly off target.
Fans booed Sterling as well as the decision not to be the first forward substituted off by Mauricio Pochettino that day, with the 29-year-old taking to social media to apologise to supporters post-match.
The Evening Standard report Sterling is ‘determined’ to become a success at Chelsea and will snub the chance to leave this summer, with clubs in Saudi Arabia interested in his services.
Sterling is unlikely to receive offers from other clubs in England owing to his £300,000-a-week wages and Chelsea’s likely asking price. He has two years left to run on his deal and is ultimately happy in west London.
Since making the switch from Man City, Sterling has made 74 appearances for Chelsea, registering 17 goals and 14 assists. This season alone, he’s scored eight times and added 10 assists in 36 matches.
Owing to a fine run of form earlier this season, Sterling was tipped to receive a recall to Gareth Southgate’s England squad, but has continued to be shunned by the Three Lions boss – his last appearance for his country came at the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
