New Chelsea head coach Liam Rosenior is set for pivotal discussions with out-of-favour stars Raheem Sterling and Axel Disasi as he evaluates their potential roles in his squad. The duo have been excluded from first-team action this season and were made available for transfer last summer, but a lack of suitable offers has left their futures in limbo.
High-Stakes Contract Situations Cloud Chelsea's Plans
The situation is particularly complex regarding Raheem Sterling, the former England and Manchester City winger. Sterling still has 18 months remaining on his lucrative Chelsea contract, which is understood to be worth approximately £325,000 per week. This significant financial commitment has proven a major obstacle in finding a new club for the 29-year-old, despite reported interest from fellow London side Fulham.
French defender Axel Disasi, signed from Monaco, finds himself in a similar predicament, having not featured for almost a year. Chelsea's hierarchy would prefer to move both players on during the January transfer window to streamline the squad and manage the wage bill, but Rosenior insists on personal assessments before any final decisions are made.
Rosenior Focused on Assessment Before Action
Appointed just days ago, the 41-year-old manager has been consumed by immediate preparations, notably for Wednesday's Carabao Cup semi-final first leg against Arsenal at Stamford Bridge. Consequently, he has yet to properly address the Sterling and Disasi dilemma.
"I've had so much on," Rosenior admitted. "I've been in for three days. This is my fourth day in the job. I will have conversations with them. Raheem's had an outstanding career. I've got huge respect for him and Axel, who was someone I've really, really liked for a long time."
He emphasised that these talks, along with consultations with the club's board, are a priority. "I have to have a conversation with them. I have to have a conversation with the club. I've got to work through a list of priority. It's been a whirlwind," he added, leaving the door slightly ajar for a potential reintegration.
Internal Solutions Before January Signings
Rosenior, who began his tenure with a 5-1 FA Cup victory over Charlton using a rotated side, indicated he is in no rush to enter the transfer market. His immediate strategy is to thoroughly evaluate the players already at Cobham.
"The first conversation I had with the guys is that I want to assess the most important players, which is the guys that are here," he stated. "Normally you get good surprises if you give people a chance... I want to give them a chance. We're in January and we want the club to be as successful as possible in the short term, but I also think sometimes the answers lay within the building and not outside."
He plans to make a final decision on potential reinforcements later in the window after observing his entire squad in action. Chelsea face a packed schedule of six matches this month, complicating immediate personnel decisions.
The immediate focus, however, shifts to the cup clash with Arsenal. Rosenior must plan without the suspended Moisés Caicedo, while key attacker Cole Palmer is an injury doubt after struggling with a groin issue. Rosenior praised Palmer's "world-class ability" but stressed the need to manage the 23-year-old's fitness carefully during this congested period.
