Raheem Sterling has been back in Chelsea a week, but is at a crossroads.
The wing player, 30, returned from a failed loan in Arsenal to train with the unwanted blues – a group with a few international caps.
Sterling works together with Joao Felix, Axel Disasi, Ben Chilwell and – to his £ 25 million transfer to Bournemouth – Djordje Petrovic.
None of them are in the plans of Enzo Maresca on Stamford Bridge and the directors of the club have a number of busy days ahead of them to move them further.
None of the senior players will be involved this afternoon in the Chelsea XI that is confronted with Bromley to officially start the preseason.
With two years left at his £ 325,000 a week, it is the key to both Sterling and Chelsea that an answer is found.
At the time of writing, no conversations were held between player and club during a transfer – although both are relaxed about finding a solution.
Yet it is far from last summer.
Sterling was almost always present on the summer tour 12 months ago before he came home to find out that he was no longer necessary.
A scramble followed a move away, with the blues for Saudi interest before a late journey through London to the Emirates was agreed.
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It was a messy experience that none of them will want or can afford to continue.
This time Chelsea is preferred to a permanent solution, although it is unclear how that looks at this phase.
They could look to land a fee for the former man of Manchester City or to pay off the rest of his deal, which could cost them north of £ 30 million.
The blues hope to earn £ 20 million back for a player who cost them £ 47.5 million three years ago, but even that looks difficult, with only a Saudi club that will probably pay somewhere near its enormous wages.
Sterling does not need more money, but it would be foolish for everyone to walk away from what they owe and there is an acceptance that has every transfer with a considerable wage reduction.
Chelsea will have the feeling that if they want to enable him to leave early and continue his gaming career, there must be some compromise on both sides.
Conversations must first concentrate on what the Sterling exit looks like before discussions continue to where he could end.
Just like last summer, there will be little interest in moving to the Saudi Pro League of Major League Soccer in America.
Potential London Rival Interest
The Van Sterling family is located in London and his son, Thiago, is part of the Gunners' Academy.
Crystal Palace showed an interest last summer and all parties could be forgiven because they had the feeling that they should have taken 12 months ago instead of Arsenal, where he only started seven Premier League matches.
It is safe to assume that a deal is playing for a different top-six club for Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City-Zeer is unlikely.
Chelsea has not yet contacted London rivals to gauge the interest, but Fulham, Brentford, Crystal Palace and West Ham can all do worse than asking the question.
It is a regrettable end for what the first flagship was signed of this American ownership on Stamford Bridge, but at the age of 30 it does not have to be the last curtain for a player with 82 English caps.
Cool heads around the negotiating table, when they finally meet, and Sterling can be on the rise again, just not on the King's Road.
Chelsea's big delusions
In the meantime, Chelsea's Big Clearout is underway because they offer to balance the books after splashing £ 169 million on new players already this summer.
Then King van Sunsport mentions the stars that Noni Madueke could follow the door, what blues has paid for them and how much they want now. . .
Nicolas Jackson
Costs £ 30 million, wants £ 60 million
Senegal Striker has Liam Delap and Joao Pedro for him, so selling makes room for players needed in the Champions League.
Joao Felix
Costs £ 38.4 million, wants £ 35 million
Accompanied after a heavy loan tint last year. Benfica will take him home, but for a lower price that blues gives half of all future costs.
Christopher Nunku
Costs £ 56 million, wants £ 35 million
Did it do well with the club World Cup, but the value of the former paris Saint-Germain star fell when his career got stuck at Chelsea in two years.
Axel Disasi
Costs £ 38 million, wants £ 26 million
Mixed spell on loan at Aston Villa has added little to its value and interested clubs, such as Newcastle, are not willing to meet Blues' appreciation.
Trevoh Chalobah
Academy, wants £ 40 million
Played a major role in the second half of last season, but as a graduated at the Academy, the defender remains a very tempting sale with PSR.
Ben Chilwell
Costs £ 50 million, wants £ 15 million
He and Reece James are the only survivors of the 2021 Champions League win and another where Blues will take a knockdown compensation.
Carney Chukwuemeka
Costs £ 15 million, wants £ 40 million
Borussia Dortmund brought the on-Loan midfielder to the club World Cup, but will not pay the asking price for the former Villa Youngster, 21.
Renato Veiga
Costs £ 11.75 million, wants £ 30 million
Not guaranteed a place in the center-back where he was well on loan at Juventus and Blues seem to be ready to cash in just a year.
Lesley Ugochukwu
Costs £ 23.5 million, wants £ 20 million
Valencia and Hamburg are enthusiastic about a loan, but Chelsea prefers a buyer – although only a Prem club will come up with the money they want.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall
Costs £ 30 million, wants £ 30 million
Both West Ham and Everton looked at loan movements with an obligation to buy in January – and maybe try again if the price drops.