With Sterling having already been exiled from Enzo Maresca's squad, the Blues were effectively adding another winger to what feels like their ever-growing crop of players who can play out wide.
However, even having missed out on the likes of Victor Osimhen and Ivan Toney, perhaps the biggest take should be the failure to offload a wide array of their fringe players.
Of all the players that have been linked with a permanent or temporary exit prior to the British transfer window closing, as many as nine squad members or prospects still remain at Stamford Bridge.
While Chelsea still have their options, there are a reducing number of transfer windows that remain open. Here, Sports Mole takes a look at how various scenarios may pan out.
What transfer windows are still open?
Although it has been well-documented that the transfer window for the Saudi Pro League shuts on Monday, there are also several European windows that remain open.
Teams in the Dutch Eredivisie and Portuguese Primeira Liga can still conduct business until Monday, while teams in Turkey have until September 18.
The other transfer window of note is in Greece, which will stay open until September 11.
How many foreign loan slots do Chelsea have left?
FIFA has been gradually reducing the amount of foreign slots available to their associated clubs in recent seasons to the extent where the limit now stands at six.
As a result of their owners having also taken over at Strasbourg, Chelsea have naturally been loaning players to Strasbourg, who have effectively become a feeder club of sorts.
Djordje Petrovic, Caleb Wiley and Andrey Santos have all made temporary moves to the French outfit, taking up half of the allotted six places.
With Aaron Anselmino having been loaned back to Boca Juniors after completing his transfer, Chelsea are down to two foreign loan slots.
Who will be Chelsea's priorities?
This all depends on which angle that Chelsea are coming from, with Maresca wanting players to earn regular game and the hierarchy perhaps more focused on further reducing their outgoings.
Given that Carney Chukwuemeka could plausibly be used as the season progresses, the priority perhaps lies with finding a club for high-earning left-back Ben Chilwell.
Of the prospects, the value of Cesare Casadei and Angelo Gabriel would drop if they were left having to play Premier League 2 football, the feeling being that they, too, will be prioritised in the short term.
A solution must also be found for David Datro Fofana. Offers allegedly arrived from the Championship and Bundesliga without the Ivorian departing the West Londoners.
Where could a permanent sale work?
The most realistic full-time transfers are Fofana and Angelo. It is plausible that a team in Netherlands, Portugal or Turkey are prepared to pay a fee for either attacker that suit all parties.
That said, Fofana would cost in excess of £10m and Angelo more than £15m. Only clubs competing with European football on their schedule will be prepared to consider that level of approach.
Although Turkish clubs have until the middle of the month to acquire fresh talent, it should be noted that registration for UEFA competitions closes on September 3.
Unless a club from Saudi Arabia expresses an interest in signing Chukwuemeka for his £40m release clause or Chilwell for a cut-price fee, it is unlikely that any other permanent transfers will materialise.
As such, Chelsea face somewhat of a quandary in how to handle their loan opportunities. The best-case scenario feels like being two permanent transfers and two loans, leaving some players out in the cold.
Who could be restricted to Under-21 football until January?
Alex Matos, Omari Kellyman and Deivid Washington were all linked with moves away from Stamford Bridge at some point during the last week.
However, given that statuses of the other players, whether that be monetary or potential, that particular trio may have to settle for a spell with the Under-21s.
Harvey Vale is the exception. Having spent longer than three years in the Chelsea academy, the 20-year-old can be loaned to a foreign club without taking up a loan slot.
Much will become clearer in all cases when Maresca confirms his Premier League squad up until the end of the calendar year.