Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has told Raheem Sterling and the other members of his squad who are yet to be involved this season that they “will not get any minutes” if they stay at the club.

Sterling, 29, has made 81 appearances for Chelsea since joining from Manchester City for £50m in July 2022 but is yet to feature this season.

His representatives released a statement before the opening game of the season against City saying he expected to be involved.

Sterling has been linked with clubs including Manchester United and has not got a squad number – but the transfer window closes on Friday.

Speaking before Chelsea’s Uefa Conference League play-off second leg against Servette, Maresca repeated his stance that Sterling, England left-back Ben Chilwell and the other players he has frozen out from the team so far will not play for him.

“I prefer to be honest with players,” he said. “The ones who are not involved are not going to be involved and they won’t get any minutes if they stay.

“I don’t know what happens when the window closes if they are still here. The ones who will get minutes are the ones I think can help us.

“Raheem is a fantastic guy who has trained very well. Every manager has a different idea and he is the kind of winger that is not one that I like. History and numbers speak for Raheem. He knows exactly what he needs to do.

“The rest are training apart, they are not going to get minutes. I have been clear and honest with them.”

Chelsea have signed 10 players this summer and gave key player Cole Palmer a contract extension until 2033.

But Maresca denied suggestions it was “a mad club.”

He added: “I can say that this is not a mad club. Since I joined the club we are working in one direction. The players who arrived are ones we wanted to bring.

“There is a clear direction where the club wants to go.”