Raheem Sterling scored just one goal for Arsenal last season.placeholder image
Raheem Sterling scored just one goal for Arsenal last season. | AFP via Getty Images
Championship fans online have been dreaming of a QPR return for ex Chelsea man Raheem Sterling.
The 31-year-old had been booted in the club’s ‘bomb squad’ under Enzo Maresca with no way back into the first team. Liam Rosenior is reported to have offered those players a chance on his arrival in west London but Sterling was not given a path back into the first team.
As a result, Sterling is now available as a free agent. Despite not having played yet this season, the former England international’s 123 Premier League goals and 75 assists is no doubt a tempting prospect for many sides.
Raheem Sterling a free agent after Chelsea release
Given his free agent status, Sterling is not necessarily under pressure to find a move before Deadline Day but the next few days are a key decision making time for clubs in the UK. There have been multiple offers from Saudi Arabia in recent years but a move to the Middle East has not tempted the forward, who is known to be keen to stay in London.
Chelsea have confirmed the departure of experienced winger Raheem Sterling.placeholder image
Chelsea have confirmed the departure of experienced winger Raheem Sterling. | Jeff Dean/Getty Images
A reluctance to leave the capital does narrow down Sterling’s options. The former Liverpool man managed to get a loan move to Arsenal last season but scored just one goal in 28 appearances. West Ham, Tottenham Hotspur, Crystal Palace and Brentford could all perhaps take a punt on the player, but some dreamers on social media are writing a different story.
Sterling came through the QPR academy as a youngster and several EFL accounts online are encouraging Championship fans to dream that the player may return. If the winger was willing to take a monstrous wage cut, it’s no doubt something that would tempt QPR.
Julien Stephan’s side are pushing for a play-off place and the added experience of Sterling could only be an asset. The question is whether the forward has the drive to take the wage loss and play for passion.
Does Sterling have the drive for Championship promotion push?
Sterling has previously labelled the decision to join the youth ranks at QPR as ‘the best decision I ever made’ but there has been criticism over the player’s attitude in recent seasons. While Sterling played at Arsenal, former Crystal Palace chairman Simon Jordan said: “Now whether Sterling is going to do anything meaningful, I don’t think it’s about getting Sterling right it’s about getting himself right. There is a clue in the title, didn’t want him at Man City and slung him off to Chelsea. Didn’t do bugger all at Chelsea and they slung him back to Arsenal.
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“Somewhere along the line someone is going to have look at the player and say it’s about time you stood up because there’s a clear opportunity for him to take.”
It’s perhaps reasonable criticism from Jordan. While at Arsenal, Sterling had the golden chance to step up for the side and energise a title charge with Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus, but failed to do so. If the thought of a Premier League trophy isn’t motivation enough, then what evidence is there that a Championship play-off race would revitalise Sterling? It could be a poisoned chalice.
In other news, QPR, Portsmouth and Sheffield United could see £1m transfer ruined by knee injury.
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