Raheem Sterling urged to RETIRE after Chelsea exile as ex-Premier League hardman Vinnie Jones insists Man Utd-linked winger should 'go and enjoy life'

Sterling is not part of Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca's plans and has been linked with a move to Manchester United, among other teams. Although the England international is only 29, former Wimbledon and Leeds United star Jones says he should "go and enjoy life" as he has nothing to worry about "financially". He also weighed in on Chelsea's huge first-team squad, which has been boosted by a string of summer signings.

"Sterling not being in the [Chelsea] squad was a little eyebrow-raiser," he told the Daily Mail. "Everything comes to an end though and he's done all right. He scored a few goals, and he might do a job for someone else, but he's had a fantastic career and if I was him I might think about going into something else. He must be financially set up for life. So, go and enjoy life. He's given the sport a lot in terms of England fans and at Liverpool and Man City. He's given a lot of fans a lot of enjoyment over the years and I don't like seeing top players like him drift down through the leagues.

"I hope he doesn't do that. I had a journalist once say that I would end up back at Wealdstone. So I spent my whole career proving him wrong. What they've got is a massive chequebook, and they're desperate to get back to the days under Roman Abramovich, aren't they? I think you'll see quite a few of them, sort of either left out or moving on in the last week of the transfer window, as that's a b****y big squad to pay wages to. With 40 odd players, I don't know how that's going to pan out."

Sterling signed for Chelsea two years ago for £47.5 million ($62.7m) but the former Manchester City star has struggled for form at Stamford Bridge. He is now looking for an exit after falling down the pecking order at the Blues, but his £325,000-a-week wages and the fact he has three years left on his deal means it may be hard to move him on before the transfer window shuts on Friday night.

While Sterling's future is up in the air, Chelsea take on Servette on Thursday night in the second leg of their Europa Conference League play-off. The Blues won the first leg 2-0 last week at Stamford Bridge.