Bookmakers have installed a new favourite in the Raheem Sterling next club odds market.
Sterling departed Chelsea by mutual consent on Wednesday after making just 81 appearances during his three-and-a-half year stint at Stamford Bridge.
Having been placed in Enzo Maresca’s ‘bomb squad’ and made to train away from the first team, the forward is desperate for regular football.
He is also open to a move away from the Premier League.
Raheem Sterling Next Club Odds
According to the Daily Mail, as many as eight clubs are weighing up a bargain swoop.
Sterling is, of course, a free agent and able to move outside of the transfer window, and he is currently pondering his options.
Tottenham’s odds were drastically slashed on Friday after showing ‘serious interest’, and they could hand him a short-term contract.
But, judging from recent market movement, Italy is now Sterling’s most likely destination.
Juventus are believed to be keen to snap up the winger, while Napoli are also hovering. Crucially, both sides will likely be able to offer him Champions League football next season.
This is reflected in the market, with the odds for any Italian club to snap him up before February 3 standing at 2/1 on BetVictor.
Spurs are then at 9/4 with Fulham at 7/2. Crystal Palace and West Ham round off the top five, coming in at 5/1.
Earlier in the week, Spurs were adrift at 8/1, but their latest odds suggest they are still in the race.
Fulham and West Ham, the previous favourites, have slumped down the order.
A potential move to Saudi Arabia is also on the cards, despite the big-name interest in Europe.
Why Raheem Sterling Could Go To Italy
Market sentiment suggested Sterling was desperate to stay in London to be close to his young family. This initially saw Fulham and West Ham priced so short at 6/4.
Fulham are pushing for a European spot and would be able to offer him ample game time.
The Hammers, meanwhile, are renowned for giving players in the twilight of their career a chance to stay at the highest level.
But, at least on paper, a switch to Serie A makes more sense.
It would present him with an opportunity to ply his trade in a new league and allow him to sample a different culture, one which has proven so intoxicating for countless players.
For now, he has yet to make up his mind, leaving the market wide open.
