Celtic told the only way they could agree Raheem Sterling deal with Chelsea
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(Credit: Imago)
Pete O'Rourke, Transfer Correspondent
Tue 23 September 2025 7:30, UK
Celtic can only sign Raheem Sterling from Chelsea if they can cover his eye-watering wages.
Sources told Football Insider on 9 September that Sterling wanted to stay at Chelsea instead of going to Turkey or Saudi Arabia.
The Englishman cited family reasons behind his decision to stay at his current club despite being knocked down the pecking order by Enzo Maresca.
As I revealed on the latest edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, the Hoops are not in a good financial position to cover the 30-year-old’s wages.
This comes after Football Insider exclusively revealed on 20 September that Sterling could head to Celtic to be reunited with former manager Brendan Rodgers.
Credit: Imago
Football Insider revealed on 15 September that Rodgers is trying to keep Daizen Maeda at Celtic.
The Japanese international is exploring the possibility of leaving Celtic Park as the Northern Irishman rushes to quickly identify a replacement.
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The out-of-favour number 30 could be seen as an ideal signing to come in if Maeda was to depart from the club.
Speaking on the Inside Track podcast on the difficulties the Bhoys face to recruit the Englishman, I explained: “The problem with Raheem Sterling and any potential move away is his huge wages.
“I think he’s the highest paid player at Chelsea, still on £300,000-a-week so, look, Celtic aren’t going to get anywhere near those wages.
“They could only probably contribute to a small percentage of that as well and how long is it going to take for Raheem Sterling to be up to speed and be ready to play regular first team football if he’s totally frozen out of things right now?
Credit: Imago
“He’s not played any football since his spell at Arsenal last season and even then that didn’t go very well.
So yeah, I would say a move is highly unlikely right now for Raheem Sterling to Celtic.
So, I think a deal for Raheem Sterling would be highly unlikely.”
Sources told Football Insider that Rodgers could quit Celtic when his contract ends next summer.
Credit: Imago
The former Leicester City boss was frustrated by limited backing in the last transfer window despite his domestic conquests in the 2024-25 season.
The Northern Irishman could threaten to walk out of Celtic at the end of the campaign without a contract extension given his lack of marquee signings.
Sterling would represent a strong commitment by the club to supporting Rodgers for the foreseeable future and opening talks over a new deal.