Raheem Sterling has been left out of Chelsea’s squad for their Europa Conference League play-off first leg with Servette.
Thursday’s game is the second in succession the 29-year-old England forward has not featured in a matchday squad after he was omitted from Chelsea’s Premier League opener with Manchester City.
Defenders Ben Chilwell, Wesley Fofana and Tosin Adarabioyo were also not included on Chelsea’s A-list submitted to Uefa for Thursday’s match at Stamford Bridge, with the second leg in Switzerland on August 29.
Should Chelsea progress they could name Sterling in their squad for the Conference League group stage.
Sterling’s representatives said in a statement before Sunday’s defeat by City they wanted “clarity” over the player’s future at the club.
Chelsea have spent about £185m (Sh31bn) on 11 signings this summer, leaving manager Enzo Maresca with a squad of more than 40 senior players.
Maresca said after the City game he “wants” Sterling at Chelsea, but acknowledged “there is not enough space” for all his players to feature in matches.
Sterling has made 81 appearances for Chelsea since he joined from Manchester City for £50m (Sh8.3bn) in July 2022.
Meanwhile, City are working on a deal that could bring midfielder Ilkay Gundogan back to the club.
The 33-year-old left City for Barcelona in 2023 after captaining Pep Guardiola’s side to their historic Treble.
However, the Catalan giants’ well publicised financial issues have prevented them from registering new signing Dani Olmo and releasing one of their higher earners would smooth that process.
City are wrestling with early personnel issues that include the £81m (Sh13.6bn) departure of Argentina forward Julian Alvarez to Atletico Madrid and an injury to Norwegian winger Oscar Bobb that could keep him out for four months.
Gundogan could provide a short-term answer to these problems and would not require a settling in period.
Manager Pep Guardiola did not want Gundogan to leave City last year, but the club were unwilling to offer the German midfielder the contract length he wanted.
After joining City from Borussia Dortmund for a reported £20m (Sh3.3bn) in 2016, Gundogan made 304 appearances for the club, scoring 60 goals.
During seven years at Etihad Stadium he won 14 trophies — five Premier League titles, one Champions League, two FA Cups, four Carabao Cups and two Community Shields.
