Chelsea 'set' Raheem Sterling price tag after failed Arsenal loan and fans can't believe it

Raheem Sterling looks increasingly likely to leave Chelsea this summer - however a baffling asking price could put clubs off making a permanent move.

Sterling signed for Chelsea from Manchester City in 2022 for £47.5m, but has fallen out of favour at Stamford Bridge and spent last season on loan at Arsenal. The 30-year-old only made 28 appearances for the Gunners, though, and scored just once before returning to his parent club.

With Chelsea continuing to invest big sums in attacking players, Sterling's first team chances under Enzo Maresca are slim for the coming season and he has been reportedly placed on the transfer list with two years left on his contract. Other players allowed to leave include Ben Chilwell, Joao Felix and Axel Disasi, with the four players said to be training separately at Cobham from the senior squad.

Raheem Sterling only started seven Premier League games for Arsenal last season. (Image: Getty)

A Chelsea XI take on Bromley this afternoon but Sterling is not set to be involved as the club look to move him on, and free up his £325,000-per-week wages. According to the Sun, paying off the final two years of Sterling's contract would cost Chelsea £30m, so they are looking for a transfer that will save that expense and recoup some of the fee they paid to sign the former England international from City.

And the report even suggests that Chelsea want as much as £20m for the winger - even if there is an acceptance that getting that fee will be difficult. It is added that only a club from Saudi Arabia may be willing to pay close to Sterling's wages and he would have to take a pay cut wherever he did move.

Sterling hasn't featured for Chelsea in 12 months and isn't in their plans for the new season. (Image: Getty)

Fans on social media reacted with shock, with one saying: "No-one is paying £20m for Sterling, even in this market." Another said: "The only clubs willing to pay that would be in the MLS or Saudi Arabia or Qatar." A number of fans suggested Sterling's best bet would be to move to the Saudi Pro League, while one fan said he would only be worth £10m after his struggles at Arsenal.

"No-one is paying £20m after that year he had at Arsenal," said another fan, and another noted that Sterling's wages could put off clubs.