Raheem Sterling has already made thoughts clear on shock return to former club following Chelsea snub

Raheem Sterling's Chelsea career appears to be over, and he has already made his feelings clear about a potential return to a former club.

Sterling joined Chelsea two years ago from Manchester City in a £47.5 million move, but he now looks set to leave Stamford Bridge.

New Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca left the England international out of his squad for his side's Premier League defeat to City last weekend, prompting the player's representatives to release a statement asking for clarification on his future.

After the game Maresca admitted that Sterling will struggle for minutes this season as he is not the kind of winger the coach wants in his team.

Sterling was subsequently left out of the squad for Chelsea's 2-0 win against Servette on Thursday in the first leg of their UEFA Conference League play-off.

Chelsea will now look to offload Sterling in the final week of the transfer window, with the player understood to favour a permanent departure rather than a loan.

Sterling currently earns a reported £325,000 per week at Stamford Bridge, but is willing to take a pay cut in order to facilitate a move.

Juventus and Aston Villa have both been linked with the 29-year-old this week, but fans are wondering if he could make a sensational return to former club Liverpool.

Sterling left Liverpool for Man City in controversial circumstances in 2015, and Liverpool fans have given him a hostile reception whenever he has returned to Anfield.

That said, Sterling has previously admitted that the club where he made his Premier League breakthrough holds a special place in his heart.

Raheem Sterling scored eight Premier League goals last season for Chelsea. (Image: Getty)

According to The Athletic, Serling was open to returning to Liverpool when he left City in 2022, but a move never became an option and so he joined Chelsea instead.

Meanwhile, during a 2020 Instagram livestream, Sterling opened up about the possibility of returning to Liverpool.

"Would I ever go back to Liverpool? To be honest with you, I love Liverpool," he said at the time.

"Don't get it twisted, they are always in my heart, do you know what I mean? It's a team that [has] done a lot for me growing up."

While Liverpool boss Arne Slot is open to bringing in a winger before the end of the transfer window, Sterling doesn't fit the club's strategy of signing young talent.

After failing to convince Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi to make the switch to Anfield, the club's priority is a central midfielder.