Raheem Sterling‘s status at Chelsea has become quite uncertain following his absence from Enzo Maresca’s debut competitive squad as the manager.
In the last year, there have been loose connections to teams in the Saudi Pro League, but it appears that Barcelona is the most suitable next stop for Sterling.
The club is actively in pursuit of a new situation for a left winger, a role that Sterling, with his extensive experience at the highest levels, would fill competently.
According to data analytics experts SciSports, Sterling would be an excellent match for Barcelona. The club scores 80 on their ‘Club Fit‘ scale, just trailing behind Real Madrid, which scores 84.
However, with the current depth of attacking talent at Madrid, a move to the Santiago Bernabeu this summer seems unlikely.
Barcelona, however, presents a different situation. The club have missed out on their primary target, Nico Williams, who will remain at Athletic Club until at least 2025, and their new signing, Dani Olmo, is not well-suited for a wide role.
At present, Hansi Flick’s squad only has Ferran Torres as the senior left winger, but he is better suited to a false nine role rather than a traditional wide position.
Therefore, the addition of Sterling would be a practical decision that could benefit all parties involved:
Sterling would join a prestigious club with significant playtime, Barcelona would address a crucial squad need, and Chelsea could release a player they no longer require, thus saving on his wages.
