Let me begin by stating that I don’t believe the rumour linking Raheem Sterling with a loan move to West Ham. It seems to be a story of convenience, likely suiting the disgruntled Chelsea player and filling a few column inches during a slow news week.
For those who don’t know, the £50M man was left out of the Chelsea squad for their Premier League opener, prompting his representatives to take to social media and demand “clarity” from the West London club.
Putting aside the obvious issues with the player’s sense of entitlement, believing he deserves to start among Chelsea’s expensively assembled team, I’m not convinced the move would be good for West Ham.
The Hammers have a new head coach in Julen Lopetegui, who is looking to establish his style and authority at the club. The last thing he needs is a player who might undermine the club when things don’t go his way.
Then there’s the impact on the squad itself. The Irons already have a situation where talented left winger Crysencio Summerville is waiting patiently for his chance to start in the first team. Signing Sterling would only further congest an area of the squad that currently has a perfect balance of experience and youth.
£20M summer signing Luis Guilherme was unable to make the bench for West Ham’s first game of the season against Aston Villa. He might as well pack his bags and go home if the club were to sign Sterling.
The Chelsea winger is undoubtedly a talented player, and there would certainly be benefits to signing him. But he’d also create problems—just as he is doing at his current club.
He’s 30 before the year is out. The squad is still too old which needs to be addressed. I’m okay with the oldies that have come in because they really are role models for the very good young players we have coming through. I don’t think Sterling would add anything more in that department. His wage demand would be a kick in the wrong direction too.
I’d rather take Chilwell than Sterling. Shame he seems a bit injury prone. Would be an upgrade on our left backs and he’s home grown. Don’t think his wages and injury record would make him too mouthwatering a proposition. Anyway, do not want Sterling at all.
Chilwell is an excellent shout Ray. Seems surplus to requirements over there
Cheers Gonzo. My mate is a Chelsea season ticket holder for his sins and cannot understand why they want rid of Chilwell or Chalobah. On the other hand, Sterling and about twenty others he’d be happy to see the back of. Mudryk is top of his list.
Agree with all that is said – an extra reason for not being involved would be to not help out Chelsea with their PSR issues – a wonderful (though unlikely) outcome for the season would be to see Man City and Chelsea relegated for gross PSR violations – highly unlikely I know but nice to dream
By the way I think that Sterling’s beef was that he was not even on the bench for the 1st game (I am not saying that what he did was right)
Simply, thankfully, won’t happen. Don’t need another left winger, can’t afford his wages, not suited to the methodology- just lazy journalism. He will just have to take his lottery ticket at the Blues and with 5,894 players in the squad he should get at least 12 minutes 45 seconds of football this year for his 15m salary.
Nonononononon… Not needed and a total waste of space ….
Agreed we don’t need Sterling. We need to see Summerville on the pitch, he’s the next real deal. We don’t need any more ageing ‘has beens’, time for the younger generation to come through. Coyi
Totally agree Dan
Don’t want or need Sterling and I Don believe there’s any truth in this rumour.
Re Guilherme though, he wasn’t bought for this season. He was bought for the future.
£25! Mill for someone who won’t be used this season didn’t realise we could afford such extravagance
For God’s sakes absolutely not. Last thing this club needs is another expensive “thinks he would be too good for West Ham” player in. Personally I’d rather pay Gonzo £250,000 a week and stick him on the right wing