Chelsea’s turbulent summer transfer window has left several high-profile players in limbo, and the treatment of Raheem Sterling is now at the centre of attention.

Reports claim the winger, once one of England’s most dangerous forwards, has been told to eat alone and even use separate toilets at Cobham after failing to secure a move away from Stamford Bridge.

Enzo Maresca made it clear early in the summer that Sterling was not part of his long-term plans. The Chelsea boss placed the 30-year-old in his so-called “bomb squad” – a group of unwanted players pushed towards the exit.

Despite the club’s determination to move him on, Sterling dug in his heels. On £325,000-a-week wages, he rejected lucrative offers from Saudi Arabia and MLS, insisting he still wants to compete at the highest level and fight for a place back in the England squad.

The drastic measures taken against Sterling – isolating him from teammates in a way usually reserved for disciplinary breaches – highlight the tough stance Chelsea are taking under the new regime. It’s a clear message that if a player refuses to leave when told, life at Cobham will be made uncomfortable.

And Sterling isn’t alone. Axel Disasi and David Datro Fofana have reportedly been hit with the same treatment after their own exits collapsed. Disasi is said to have turned down a loan to West Ham, while Fofana’s rumoured switch to Celtic never materialised.