Raheem Sterling has been included on Chelsea’s matchday programme… with the shirt number that was taken off him this week.
The Blues are in motion against Swiss side Servette of their Conference League play-off first leg clash on Thursday night amid chaotic scenes within the transfer marketplace for them.
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Chelsea wish to make big cuts to their already bloated playing squad before transfer deadline day on August 30, with Sterling being told he’s surplus to requirements at Stamford Bridge.
Aston Villa are potential suitors for Sterling and talkSPORT understands the Champions League club have been in contact with Chelsea over his availability.
Nevertheless, no talks between Villa and Sterling have taken place at this stage.
It is also understood that Sterling doesn’t need to move abroad.
After Conor Gallagher, who has since accomplished his move to Atletico Madrid, Romelu Lukaku and Armando Broja were omitted from the programme ahead of Chelsea’s Premier League clash against Manchester City last weekend, Sterling could have suffered the identical fate on Thursday.
He’s still on their books so remained on the back page of the programme which shows the complete first-team playing squads, nevertheless, a glaring error related to Sterling has been noticed.
The 29-year-old has been labelled as Chelsea’s no.7 despite the very fact he was stripped of the number, which was subsequently given to summer signing Pedro Neto.
Neto starts the sport on Thursday night with former Barcelona teenager Marc Guiu and summer signing Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall also given the nod by Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca.
Meanwhile, talisman Cole Palmer and captain Enzo Fernandez are amongst those to have been named on the bench.
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Chelsea: Jorgensen, Veiga, Badiashile, Adarabioyo, Disasi, Dewsbury-Hall, Caicedo, Pedro Neto, Nkunku, Guiu, Mudryk
Substitutes: Bettinelli, Colwill, Cucurella, Fernandez, Gusto, Jackson,
Lavia, Madueke, Palmer, Sanchez
The way in which Chelsea have handled Sterling has been met with some criticism, nevertheless, former Blues player Jason Cundy insists that is the business of football.
After storming into the studio during Wednesday’s Kick Off show, talkSPORT host Cundy said: “I used to be listening on the market, great show by the way in which, fascinating listen. But listening to you talk concerning the way the Raheem Sterling is being treated.
“Football shock… player treated badly to get out of club. Only ever club to do it. Let me inform you now, I’ve had it done to me on a couple of occasion.
“Jamie O’Hara has had it done to him, it’s football. On a human level I feel for Raheem, I feel for Conor, and I feel for Trevoh Chalobah. On a human level.
“But that is football. These players are being paid tons of of 1000’s of kilos every week and sometimes your face doesn’t fit.
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“It doesn’t make it right, but this will not be breaking news.
“Man United in the way in which they treated Roy Keane when he went. It’s been happening for many years.
“What about when managers get sacked? Where is that this outpouring of grief when managers get sacked? You never hear it.
“The way in which you two are happening, I used to be giggling considering I’ve got to say something.”
A late surge last season saw Chelsea come sixth within the Premier League, nevertheless, they were forced to give up their Europa League spot to Manchester United after the Red Devils beat Manchester City within the FA Cup final.
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