Raheem Sterling one of two Chelsea stars stripped of squad numbers as Pedro Neto and Joao Felix given new numbers
Chelsea have stripped Raheem Sterling and Trevoh Chalobah of their squad numbers in an apparent latest bid to force them out of Stamford Bridge.
The duo are are two members of the Blues’ bloated squad that have been forced to train separately from the first team along with Ben Chilwell, Romelu Lukaku, Kepa Arrizabalaga and Armando Broja.
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Sterling looks set to depart with the winger told he is not in boss Enzo Maresca’s plansCredit: GettyJuventus have an interest in Sterling, while talkSPORT understands Manchester United have been offered the chance to snap up Chilwell given their two left-backs Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia remain injured.
Unsurprisingly, none of the players in that group were involved in Chelsea’s matchday squad for their Premier League opener against Manchester City, which they lost 2-0.
Sterling took the No17 shirt when he first joined from City in the summer of 2022 for £47.5million and switched to No7 last season.
READ MORE ON CHELSEAHowever, that shirt has now gone to £54m recruit Pedro Neto, who joined from Wolves.
The change comes just days after Neto donned the No19 shirt for his Chelsea debut against City.
As for Chalobah, he has been forced to vacate his No14 jersey for new recruit Joao Felix, who wore the same number during his loan spell with Barcelona last season.
The Portuguese forward’s return to west London was confirmed on Wednesday with Chelsea forking out £42.6m to prise him away from Atletico Madrid.
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During his loan spell at Chelsea in the second half of the 2022/23 season, Felix was given the No11.
Chelsea confirmed the number changes in a club statement, but stressed they ‘will remain subject to change’ until the end of the transfer window.
The club also stated it would allow fans who purchased Neto shirts with No19 on the back to exchange them for a Neto No7 jersey up until September 30.
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Neto has been given Sterling’s No7 – days after wearing the No19 on his debutCredit: Getty
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Chalobah has also had his number taken away from him as the Blues look to offload himCredit: GettyStripping Sterling and Chalobah of their squad numbers is the latest step in new Blues boss Enzo Maresca’s ruthless attempt to force players out.
“We have a big squad and it’s impossible to give all of them minutes,” Maresca said in a press conference on Wednesday.
“If they are looking for minutes it’s better for them to leave.
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“I try to be honest. I spoke with Raheem before the Manchester City game.
“I said he will struggle to get minutes with us and this was the reason why he was out.
“And with Chilly, he’s a lovely guy, but I said he is going to struggle with his position. It’s not brutal, it’s just honest.”
Commenting on the possibility of Chelsea being stuck with unwanted players, he stated: “This is not my problem.
Read More on talkSPORT”I am here to take decisions and think the best for us. I am not thinking about how many years are on the contracts.
“They have a 20-year contract? I don’t care. It’s not my job.”
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