According to sources who spoke to ESPN, Chelsea is “working closely with the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA)” over how the team has handled Raheem Sterling and Axel Disasi.
After being informed that they had no future at Stamford Bridge, both players are training away from the first team.
In July 2022, Sterling, 30, became the first player to sign with Chelsea under its new owners, Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital, after joining from Manchester City for £47.5 million ($64.85 million). He has two years left on the five-year contract he signed.
Disasi, 27, signed a £38.5 million contract with Chelsea until June 2029 after joining from Monaco in August 2023.
With former England winger Sterling making 28 games across all competitions for Arsenal and Disasi playing 10 times for Aston Villa, both players spent the previous season on loan away from Stamford Bridge.
This summer, Sterling and Disasi were both free agents, but neither was able to find a new home.
Sterling, who was born in London, wanted to stay in the city to be with his young family, thus the offers from both Napoli and Bayern Munich were not appropriate at the time, according to sources who spoke to ESPN.
However, prospects of a return to Enzo Maresca’s team have not materialized, as Sterling and Disasi have been forced to practice apart from the senior group since the transfer market closed on September 1.
According to sources, Chelsea and the PFA are currently collaborating to make sure the two players can train effectively and earn playing time at the team’s Cobham training facility.
To help Sterling and Disasi secure a move away from Chelsea when the transfer window reopens in January, they have also been assigned specific trainers.
When ESPN contacted Chelsea and the PFA, they declined to comment.
