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 demanded his substitution 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 has a contract until 2027 with the option of an extra year and wages of £300,000 per week, making him their highest earner. Only a handful of clubs could afford that kind of salary and it doesn’t take much math to figure out where those buyers are based.

But on Sunday, with Sterling enduring 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 as Todd Boehly traveled to Riyadh to meet the director of the Saudi Pro League Meet. football Michael Emenalo.

While it may seem like an unusual setup, Emenalo is responsible for overseeing the international signings of Saudi teams, with the former Chelsea technical director in the powerful position to influence the eighteen clubs in what they need and who they can get .

Despite the meeting in Riyadh fueling speculation of a sale, those close to Chelsea and Sterling insist they have a good relationship.

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

On the club’s part, they claim they are not actively looking to move Sterling, even though they are interested in signing 21-year-old left winger Nico Williams from Athletic Bilbao this summer.

On the player’s part, they say he is committed to Chelsea, determined to make a success of his time at Stamford Bridge and is not interested in a move to Saudi Arabia. If so, he could have made that move last summer.

It’s a position that could still be tested should a Middle Eastern club come calling in the next window. If a bid were to materialise, it is suggested as ‘unlikely’ that Chelsea would stand in Sterling’s way if he expressed a desire to embrace a new challenge.

Chelsea sold a number of their stars to Saudi last summer, such as Kalidou Koulibaly and Edouard Mendy to Al-Hilal and Al-Ahli to fetch £33 million, while N’Golo Kante joined Al-Ittihad on a free transfer. More 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 to Roma and Real Madrid.

Chelsea beat Leicester to reach the FA Cup semi-finals, but from an individual perspective it was one of Sterling’s worst days. So poor that he apologized afterwards on social media after missing a penalty after taking the ball from Cole Palmer, squandering a one-on-one chance and taking an 18-yard free-kick, leading to widespread cheering. When Mauricio Pochettino opted to replace Mykhailo Mudryk, the Chelsea manager was criticized.

There is certainly no denying that Sterling does not suit Chelsea’s approach. Their priority has been to sign players closer to 20 than 30, which Sterling will bring in in December, and on far less lucrative deals than the one he is currently on.

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

Sterling has not given up hope of an England recall, but a Saudi move would make things difficult

Although it will take some effort to convince Gareth Southgate, Sterling has not given up on a return to the England team. Naturally, his chances of getting a call-up would be reduced if he were to move to Saudi Arabia – a consideration he must take into account if and when he is offered the opportunity to leave.

It was Thomas Tuchel who signed Sterling after convincing the owner to commit to his contract. Tuchel was fired less than two months later and a difficult turnover of managers followed.

Pochettino is his latest boss and the 52-year-old Argentine feels some of Sterling’s most important work remains unseen 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 that happens, the more likely they will continue to take out their frustration on him. It’s not the best environment for Sterling to live in – he’s always afraid of his own fans showing their anger – and will only add to the intrigue if a Saudi side offers him an exit strategy this summer.