Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca has drawn up a list of players he wants to offload before the start of the 2025/26 season.
The Blues wrapped up the extended 2024/25 campaign by lifting the newly-formatted FIFA Club World Cup in a major boost for Maresca in the USA.
With the financial cushion afforded by UEFA Champions League qualification, the Italian has splashed the cash in recent weeks, with £227m spent on new players.
Liam Delap, Joao Pedro and Jamie Gittens are the headline attacking signings with Noni Madueke moving on to Arsenal in a £48.5m deal.
Maresca is now looking to recoup funds via sales, starting with Madueke, and he is keen to offload Raheem Sterling from his bloated wage bill.
Sterling failed to ignite during a season-long loan at the Gunners last season, with no goals in 17 Premier League appearances, and he remains outside Maresca's plans back at Stamford Bridge.
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With two years remaining on his Chelsea contract, removing Sterling's estimated squad-high £17m annual salary remains an awkward issue for the club, and they are open to a cut price sale.
Interest from the Bundesliga has yet to develop into a formal offer, but reports from the Daily Telegraph indicate neighbours Fulham could reach out if terms suit the Cottagers.
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Despite their rivalry, Fulham and Chelsea have a recent record of trading players, and Sterling could be the latest to make the short trip across West London.
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With Sterling set as Chelsea's top earner, the Blues will need to reach a wage settlement with the England international, before Fulham will make a move.
Chelsea could accept an offer in the region of £8m, as they look to remove the 30-year-old permanently, with the club hierarchy keen to avoid another loan.
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