Chelsea striker Sterling's transfer remains up in the air and despite being stripped of his shirt number, his name still appears in tonight's matchday programme for the UEFA Europa League play-offs. This detail once again highlights the awkwardness of Sterling's current situation and the complexity of transfer negotiations.
According to Sky Sports chief reporter Kaveh Solhekol, Sterling is still training outside Chelsea's Cobham training ground today, suggesting that he has not given up on his future at Chelsea, or at least is still awaiting the final outcome of his transfer. However, Chelsea have apparently already begun the process of finding him a new home, with active discussions taking place with the relevant parties.
It is worth noting that Sterling's representatives are not currently in direct talks with any other club, including Aston Villa. This could be due to the fact that Chelsea are still trying to find a more suitable transfer package for him, or because Sterling himself has specific requirements for his next home.
In tonight's UEFA Europa League play-off matchday issue, Sterling is still listed as number 7, despite the fact that the number had already been given to Pedro Neto yesterday. The error may have been caused by the fact that the issue went to press before the news was announced, but it also inadvertently reveals Sterling's current awkward position at Chelsea.
For Sterling, he will undoubtedly want to solve his transfer problem as soon as possible, so that he can find his home before the start of the new season. For Chelsea, they also need to find a suitable home for Sterling as soon as possible, so that they can recoup some of the transfer funds and make room for the team's new season lineup.
