West Ham United have held talks to sign Chelsea forward Raheem Sterling, who is free to leave Stamford Bridge this summer, according to former scout Mick Brown.
Sterling's future at Chelsea is uncertain after spending last season on loan at Arsenal. The English attacker has now returned to Chelsea following his unsuccessful temporary move to north London, and the Blues are now looking to move him on, which is no surprise considering the salary he is taking home.
It's suggested that Sterling earns around £325,000-a-week at Chelsea, so it's always going to be difficult for them to move him on this summer. Many clubs will have considered paying that salary when he was in his prime, but he's struggled to live up to expectations in recent years, with his spell at Arsenal being a difficult one.
West Ham Hold Talks to Sign Raheem Sterling
Raheem Sterling
Raheem Sterling
According to former scout Brown, speaking to Football Insider, West Ham have held talks to sign Chelsea forward Sterling during the summer transfer window. Chelsea are hoping to move him on before the market closes, but there isn't a lot of interest in the England international.
“They want to move him on, whether it’s permanently or on another loan deal, but there isn’t masses of interest in him. His agent has been speaking to a few clubs, in England and abroad, and I believe West Ham are one they have spoken to That move would make sense because he’s worked with the manager before and they’ve got that relationship there already."
If Potter backs himself to get Sterling back to his best, then he could be a player worth taking a risk on, but we've unfortunately not seen than from him for quite a few years now. His significant wages make it difficult for a side to justify taking the risk, as bringing him in could take up a large chunk of their wage budget.
Signing him permanently would be an even bigger risk, as you're going to find it difficult to make a profit in the future. Chelsea are already struggling to shift him in the summer transfer window, and that's only going to become trickier, with the London-born forward now in his thirties.
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