Raheem Sterling's obvious Aston Villa shirt number

Raheem Sterling, currently out of favor at Chelsea, has been linked with a transfer to Aston Villa. However, the move could be complicated by his longstanding preference for the shirt number 7, which he has worn for most of his career, including during his time at Manchester City. When he joined Chelsea in 2022, Sterling opted for the closest available number, 17, as the number 7 was not available. At Aston Villa, the number 17 shirt is currently held by Samuel Iling-Junior, who transferred from Juventus for £11.8 million in July. Following his exclusion from the squad in Villa's recent 2-1 win over West Ham, reports suggest that Iling-Junior is exploring loan options. This situation could potentially open the door for Sterling to secure his preferred number, should Iling-Junior depart or be reassigned. Despite the speculation surrounding his future, Sterling has reportedly shown no interest in following his former teammate, Moussa Diaby, to the Saudi Pro League. The ongoing developments regarding Sterling's status at Chelsea and potential move to Villa continue to attract attention as the new football season unfolds. As the football landscape evolves, fans are eager to see how this situation will resolve, particularly with the added excitement of the new season and numerous live games available for viewing.