Chelsea manager Liam Rosenior has said he will hold talks with Raheem Sterling and Axel Disasi over their future at Stamford Bridge.
Both players have been deemed to meet the requirements by former coach Enzo Maresca and are continuing to train apart from the first-team group.
Sterling, who missed out on loan to Arsenal last season, still has two years left on his £325,000-a-week ($436,000-a-week) contract, signed in 2022, while DiSasi’s contract runs until 2029. He spent the second half of last season on loan at Aston Villa.
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“We’re going to talk to them,” Rosenior said at a news conference Tuesday. “Raheem has had a great career. I have a lot of respect for him. Axel is someone I’ve really, really liked for a long time.
“We haven’t touched on that topic yet because we had a lot of games and things to do. But we will in the next few days.”
ESPN reported earlier this month that Sterling is prioritizing a permanent move from Chelsea this month amid growing interest from West Ham and Fulham.
With the January transfer window still open, Rosenior said he will fully evaluate the squad he takes over before recruiting reinforcements.
Asked if he was considering a return for the underdog pair, he said: “I have to talk to them, I have to talk to the club. I have a lot of work to do and that’s near the top of my list.”
Rosenior’s immediate priority is Wednesday’s Carabao Cup semi-final first leg at home to Arsenal, with the former Strasbourg boss expected to make a late decision due to Cole Palmer’s illness.
England international Palmer has scored 43 goals and provided 29 assists in his first two seasons with the Blues after joining from Premier League rivals Manchester City in 2023.
However, due to injuries, the 23-year-old has struggled to make a consistent impact this term.
Rosenior said there was much more to expect from the “world-class” talent, but warned that it may take time for him to reach his full potential.
“Cole has a special talent. My job is to get to know him, connect with him and understand what brings out the best in him, and that takes time,” Rosenior said.
“I’m not here to talk about how he’s doing or how he played under his previous coach. I’m just excited to work with him.”
“The scary thing about Cole is that he already has world-class ability, but he’s only 23 and has so much more to offer.
“I can’t wait to work with him on a regular basis. He has undoubted potential and some pretty formidable abilities.”
Palmer sat out Saturday night’s 5-1 FA Cup third-round win over Charlton as a precaution after missing the start of the campaign with a groin problem and a bruised toe.
He has played in 12 games this season, scoring four goals, but has yet to register an assist.
The forward’s form initially slumped in the second half of last season. After scoring 14 goals in his opening 21 Premier League games, he only scored one more goal in his next 26 games to help the Blues win the Club World Cup.
Roseniall wants to give Palmer the freedom to reach new heights.
“Good players can play anywhere,” Rosenior said. “I’ve seen Cole play as a false No. 9, I’ve seen him play on the right side, I’ve seen him play on the left side, I’ve seen him play as a No. 10.
“He’s just a world-class player. I want to give him the license to do what he loves, which is create goals and score goals.”
