Raheem Sterling reportedly rejected a £900k-a-week contract from the Saudi Pro League in order to remain at Chelsea for the 2023-24 campaign.
Ending a trophy-laden spell under Pep Guardiola at Manchester City, the 82-time England international switched the Etihad Stadium for Stamford Bridge in the summer of 2022.
Sterling notched a respectable nine goals during his maiden season in West London, however those strikes did not save Chelsea from finishing 12th in the Premier League - the club's worst standing since 1994.
The former Liverpool attacker has scored five goals and provided three assists in 22 top-flight matches this term, a record that can only be bettered by Cole Palmer among Blues players.
According to The Telegraph, Sterling had the opportunity to depart Chelsea in the summer transfer window, just a year after moving from the blue side of Manchester.
© Reuters
The report claims that the 29-year-old was offered a £900k-per-week deal from an unnamed team plying their trade in the Saudi Pro League.
With Sterling said to be currently earning £300-a-week, it is believed that the winger could have tripled his salary by accepting the lucrative offer.
Despite the massive financial gain, the Englishman supposedly had no intention of leaving Chelsea at any stage ahead of the 2023-24 season.
Sterling put pen to paper on a bumper five-year contract when he signed from the treble-winning Citizens in 2022, committing him to the Stamford Bridge club until 2027.
© Reuters
After starting the 4-2 loss at home to Wolverhampton Wanderers on February 4, the attacker was restricted to substitute appearances during recent matches against Aston Villa and Crystal Palace.
Conor Gallagher bagged his first two goals of the league campaign in the space of 45 minutes at Selhurst Park, downing his former employers and helping Mauricio Pochettino's men to a much-needed 3-1 victory.
It is believed that Sterling would have become the third highest-paid player in the Pro League had he entertained a move to the Middle East, falling behind only Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema in the salary standings.
Sterling will be looking to take the space of either Nicolas Jackson or Noni Madueke in the Blues' XI when they make the trip to Man City on Saturday evening.
Carter White
