West Ham have once again been linked with a move for Chelsea winger Raheem Sterling as the West London club weigh up whether to terminate his contract.
The rumour follows Chelsea’s decision not to hand the former Liverpool and Manchester City man a squad number for this campaign. Sterling was offered to multiple clubs during the transfer window—including West Ham—but his £325,000-per-week wages proved a major stumbling block. Chelsea knew they would need to subsidise any loan move, while Sterling further limited his options by insisting on staying in London.
Whether the Hammers were ever seriously interested is hard to say, but there was dialogue between the two clubs. Fulham were reportedly keen on a cut-price permanent transfer, yet Sterling is said to have pushed for a full pay-off from Chelsea before considering any move.
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Now, reports suggest Stamford Bridge chiefs could offer to cover a large percentage of his wages to terminate his contract—predictably sparking fresh speculation of a West Ham link.
The whole saga feels messy, with Sterling seemingly prioritising location and money over football. If he was truly determined to force his way into England’s World Cup squad, he’d surely have moved clubs this summer.
As it stands, this looks like another case of a footballer putting everything ahead of playing time. For that reason, I’d hope West Ham give this one a swerve.