Raheem Sterling. Photo: photosport
England internationals Raheem Sterling and Ben Chilwell are training apart from Chelsea's first team, manager Enzo Maresca said, as British media reports linked them with moves away from the Premier League club.
Sterling and Chilwell, who missed Sunday's 2-0 Premier League loss to champions Manchester City, may struggle to get playing time if they choose to remain at Chelsea, Maresca said.
"In this moment, they are training apart," Maresca told reporters ahead of Thursday's Europa Conference League playoff tie against Swiss side Servette.
"We have a big squad, for me it's impossible to give everyone minutes. So if they're looking for minutes, probably it is better to leave."
Maresca said Sterling, who has played 59 league games for Chelsea since joining in 2022, was not the kind of winger he wanted.
"I'm not saying he's not a good player, but I prefer different kinds of wingers," the Italian said.
"I spoke with Raheem before Manchester City, I said that he is going to struggle to get minutes with us. With (Chilwell), I said he is a lovely guy but with his position, he's going to struggle with us. It's not brutal, it's honest.
"It's not a comfortable situation... I think it is good to know that if you want to stay, you will struggle to get minutes... but in a few days or weeks it can be a better situation because you move and you join a club where you will get more minutes," he added.
Chelsea sign Felix
Meanwhile, Chelsea has signed Portugal forward Joao Felix from Atletico Madrid on a seven-year deal.
Joao Felix. Photo: photosport
Financial details were not disclosed, but English media reported that Chelsea paid around 46 million pounds ($NZ97 million) to secure the 24-year-old's return to Stamford Bridge.
Felix impressed during his six-month loan spell at Chelsea in the 2022-23 season, scoring four goals in 20 appearances. He spent the last campaign on loan at Barcelona, scoring 10 goals in 44 games.
"It's a chance for me to find a home," Felix told Chelsea's website.
"After two loans, Chelsea and Barca, I needed to stay permanently in one place. There's no better place for me to be than Chelsea. I see a perfect place to shine.
"I felt really good when I was here, despite the results we had. I'm really happy to be back," he added.
Atletico sign Chelsea's Gallagher
In a related deal, Atletico Madrid have signed England midfielder Conor Gallagher from Chelsea on a five-year deal.
Conor Gallagher (R) of Chelsea takes on Jamie Vardy of Leicester City. Photo: photosport
Gallagher, who had been at Chelsea since the age of eight, has signed a contract until 2029 with Atletico who have paid 42 million euros ($NZ76 million) for the 24-year-old, according to media reports.
"We wish Conor the very best as he begins a new chapter in his career," Chelsea said in an official announcement published in their website.
Gallagher spent the early part of his senior career on loan, including spells at Premier League clubs West Bromwich Albion and Crystal Palace, and did not make his Chelsea debut until 2022.
Last season Gallagher started 37 Premier League games, missing just one league match through suspension, and spent most of the campaign as club captain due to injuries to Reece James and Chilwell.
Gallagher had one year left on his Chelsea contract, and Maresca recently stated that he had been offered a new contract.
He made his England debut in 2021, has 18 caps and made five appearances at Euro 2024 where England reached the final, losing 2-1 to Spain.
- Reuters
