Chelsea and West Ham may be fierce rivals on the pitch, but over the years, the two clubs have shared a fair number of players, with many making the switch from one to the other.
For West Ham, it’s been a mix of highs and lows when it comes to former Blues.
There have been the good: Declan Rice, who left Chelsea’s academy to join the Hammers and went on to become one of the club’s greatest-ever players, and Carlton Cole, a top Premier League striker and a fan favourite.
There have been the bad: Victor Moses, who, despite his success at Chelsea, didn’t quite make his mark at West Ham; and players like Frank Nouble and Domingos Quina, who came and went with little fanfare.
Then there’s been the ugly: Kurt Zouma. While not a bad player, his off-field actions created a storm of controversy, which West Ham would have preferred to avoid.
Now, it seems another Chelsea player could be making the move across the capital to the London Stadium.
West Ham Keeping Tabs On Raheem Sterling
Raheem Sterling. (Reuters/Peter Cziborra)
Raheem Sterling. (Reuters/Peter Cziborra)
According to a report from TalkSPORT, West Ham are among the clubs keeping a close eye on Raheem Sterling this summer.
The England international, who spent last season on loan, has reportedly been told he has no future at Chelsea and is now training with a group of players the Blues are willing to send out on loan. These players are being kept separate from the main first-team squad under manager Enzo Maresca, who previously described Sterling as “fantastic.”
Chelsea have made it clear they want to offload Sterling this summer, and it seems the Hammers may be ready to pounce. Despite Sterling’s current position in the squad, his former relationship with West Ham boss Graham Potter — who worked with him at Stamford Bridge — could play a key role in bringing him to East London.
Fulham and Crystal Palace are also said to be interested in the winger, with Juventus reportedly keeping tabs as well. However, TalkSPORT claims Sterling’s preference would be to remain in London, which could make West Ham an attractive option.
This is a deal that could go one of two ways.
On paper, Sterling is a four-time Premier League winner and one of the division’s highest-ever scoring wingers, having netted 123 top-flight goals. But his last season at Arsenal was dismal. With just one goal in 28 appearances and a string of missed chances, his lack of confidence was glaring. Arsenal ultimately decided not to make his loan permanent, which left Sterling in limbo.
It’s a gamble. If he finds his confidence again, it could be a game-changer for West Ham. But if it goes the other way, it could end up being one that West Ham would rather forget.