Expert: Chelsea could 'tear up' Raheem Sterling's contract
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Credit: Imago
Callum O'Connell
Tue 2 September 2025 14:09, UK
Chelsea could “tear up” Raheem Sterling’s contract at Stamford Bridge and allow him to find a move on a free transfer after the deadline.
That is according to former Man United and Blackburn chief scout Mick Brown, who remains very well-connected within the game, as he exclusively told Football Insider that Enzo Maresca has no plans to reintegrate the forward into his plans.
This comes after Football Insider revealed on 23 August that Chelsea were struggling to sell Sterling as a result of his “huge” weekly wage at Stamford Bridge.
Both West Ham and Fulham were both believed to be interested in signing the 30-year-old but opted against making a move on deadline day due to his situation at Chelsea.
Fulham made a late approach for Sterling amid doubts about their efforts to sign Kevin from Shakhtar Donetsk, but the Brazilian was eventually signed.
The forward is earning around £300,000 per week at Chelsea, putting off any potential suitors who would be unable to match his lofty demands.
Credit: Imago
This article contains exclusive comment from Mick Brown, a football transfer expert and former chief scout for Man United and Sunderland among others.
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Brown told Football Insider on 21 August that West Ham were interested in signing Sterling after speaking to his agent, who made contact with a number of clubs.
The former scout, who has a wealth of experience in top-level player recruitment after over a decade at Man United during their most successful period, insisted that Chelsea could now take drastic measures to force him out of Stamford Bridge.
“It’s a possibility that Chelsea could tear up his contract,” he told Football Insider.
“Fulham and West Ham are clubs I’ve heard want him, but they haven’t been able to do deals with Chelsea or meet the wages they’re paying him.
“If Chelsea know a move is there for him, they might cut their losses and let him go for free.
“That would allow him to go wherever he wants to go without them getting involved.
“At the moment, it’s been difficult to agree a deal both with Chelsea and with Sterling, and clubs are more likely to move if there’s no transfer fee involved.
“Plus, it would allow him to move outside of the window so there’s no restriction there.
“I think that’s a better scenario than having him collecting his wage and never playing.”
One play who arrived at Chelsea before the transfer deadline was Alejandro Garnacho, who Man United had been keen to shift from their wage bill.
Football Insider revealed on 29 August that Man United rushed through Garnacho’s sale and ultimately agreed to a fee which was below their initial demand.
Credit: Hasan Karim, Breaking Media
The Blues had targeted the Argentina international throughout the transfer window after Ruben Amorim made clear he would not be part of his plans at Old Trafford.
Brown first told Football Insider in February that Garnacho was questioning his future at Man United after missing out on a January move to Stamford Bridge.
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