Chelsea claim they are not trying to sell Raheem Sterling and he wants to stay rather than quit for Saudi – despite a Riyadh rendezvous. But he clearly doesn’t suit them, writes KIERAN GILL

Booed by his own supporters who called for his replacement at Stamford Bridge, Raheem Sterling is approaching a summer in which his commitment to Chelsea could be tested and vice versa.

Sterling signed from Manchester City in July 2022 for £47.5 million. He is under contract until 2027 with the option of a further year and on a weekly salary of £300,000, making him their highest earner. Only a handful of clubs could afford such a salary and it doesn’t take much math to work out where those buyers are based.

Yet on Sunday, as Sterling endured another difficult day in a Chelsea shirt, there was no indication from insiders that the 29-year-old’s name was a topic of discussion when Todd Boehly traveled to Riyadh to meet the director of the Saudi Pro League. footballer Michael Emenalo.

While it may seem unusual, Emenalo is responsible for overseeing international signings for Saudi sides, with the former Chelsea technical director in the position of power to influence all 18 clubs on what they need and who they can get.

Although the meeting in Riyadh has fueled speculation about a sale, those close to Chelsea and Sterling currently insist they are happy to stay connected.

Sterling missed a penalty against Leicester and was booed by his own supporters

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On the club side, they say they are not actively looking to replace Sterling, although they are interested in signing 21-year-old Athletic Bilbao left winger Nico Williams this summer.

As for the player, he is said to be committed to Chelsea, determined to make a success of his time at Stamford Bridge and uninterested in a move to Saudi Arabia. If he had been, he could have made this change last summer.

It’s a position that could still be tested if a club from the Middle East comes calling in the next window. Should an offer come through, it is suggested that Chelsea would be “unlikely” to stand in the way of Sterling should he express a desire for a new challenge.

Chelsea sold several of their stars to Saudi Arabia last summer, such as Kalidou Koulibaly and Edouard Mendy to Al-Hilal and Al-Ahli to raise £33 million, while N’Golo Kante joined Al-Ittihad free. Others are likely to follow at the end of this season with Romelu Lukaku and Kepa Arrizabalaga among those the club would like to offload once they return from their loans at Roma and Real Madrid.

Chelsea beat Leicester to reach the FA Cup semi-finals, but from an individual point of view it was one of Sterling’s worst days. So bad that he later apologized on social media, after missing a penalty after recovering the ball from Cole Palmer, wasting a one-on-one opportunity and scoring an 18-yard free kick, which led to widespread mockery. When Mauricio Pochettino opted to replace Mykhailo Mudryk, the Chelsea manager was criticized.

Certainly, there is no denying that Sterling is not suited to the approach that Chelsea ownership is taking. Their priority has been to sign players closer to 20 than 30, which Sterling will do in December, and on much less lucrative contracts than the one he is currently on.

Mauricio Pochettino believes Sterling’s experience is useful in helping young players

Sterling hasn’t given up hope of England recall, but Saudi move would make things difficult

Although it will take time to convince Gareth Southgate, Sterling has not given up on a return to the England team. Naturally, his chances of being recalled would diminish if he were to move to Saudi Arabia – a consideration he will need to take into account if and when he is offered the chance to leave.

It was Thomas Tuchel who signed Sterling, after convincing ownership to commit to his contract. Tuchel was sacked less than two months later and a difficult managerial turnover ensued.

Pochettino is his latest boss and the 52-year-old Argentine believes some of Sterling’s most important work goes unnoticed as his experience helps his younger teammates at their Cobham training ground.

Still, Chelsea fans want to see him prove his worth on the pitch. The less this happens, the more likely it is that they will continue to express their frustration with him. It’s not the most pleasant environment for Sterling to exist in – always fearful that his own fans will show their fury – and it will only add to the intrigue if a Saudi side offers him an exit strategy this summer.