ThewolfChelsea outcast Raheem Sterling has been making the headlines this week and now he has made his preference clear after a high-level West Ham approach.
The future of Raheem Sterling at Chelsea suddenly became world news over the weekend.
But those of you following Hammers News won’t have been one bit surprised.
Because Chelsea have been trying to offload Sterling to West Ham.
Way back in mid-June, Hammers News exclusively reported that Chelsea chief Todd Boehly had been speaking to West Ham about taking Sterling this summer.
Boehly – who was once linked with a takeover of West Ham before leading the Chelsea buyout – offered Sterling to the Hammers and London rivals Crystal Palace according to journalist Graeme Bailey.
Speaking to Hammers News, Bailey revealed his Chelsea sources told him they were ‘desperate to get Sterling out’ of Stamford Bridge.
So desperate in fact they offered him to West Ham and were even willing to pick up a large portion of his wages.
“They (Chelsea hierarchy) think Palace and West Ham might be the only options,” Bailey told Hammers News.
“They are willing to cover a huge chunk of his wages, which actually makes him sort of tempting.”
Chelsea asked West Ham to take Sterling two months ago
Quite why news emerging over the weekend that Sterling has no future at Stamford Bridge is suddenly a big deal then is anyone’s guess.
At the time we poured cold water on the chances of West Ham taking Sterling.
The Hammers already signed teen Brazilian winger Luis Guilherme and have since added exciting young attacker Crysensio Summerville.
Sterling can, though, be played as a striker. And West Ham are known to be on the lookout for a pacy forward if they can shift Danny Ings.
Any deal involving West Ham would likely have to be a loan at best.
Well now there has been a development.
Sterling makes preference clear after West Ham approach
Chelsea outcast Sterling has made his preference clear after that high-level West Ham approach.
The Athletic’s David Ornstein has revealed Sterling has said he would prefer a permanent exit from Chelsea rather than a loan.
“Raheem Sterling has expressed preference to exit Chelsea on permanent (not loan) as not part of plans,” Ornstein said.
“Trained away from Chelsea on Tuesday and Wednesday after being given days off while both sides assess options.
New Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca, a former West Ham assistant boss, has been brutally honest when discussing Sterling’s future.
The Italian simply says Sterling does not have one at Chelsea and has been told as much.
It seems highly unlikely West Ham would bring in Sterling.
The Hammers have Mohammed Kudus, Jarrod Bowen, Summerville and Guilherme to play on the flanks.
Highly unlikely but second striker role intriguing
Up front Niclas Fullkrug is the new first choice striker.
There has been talk Julen Lopetegui wants to be able to play a 352 formation in certain games, though. Or certainly the flexibility to switch to that in-game.
That is essentially how West Ham finished the defeat to Villa with Ings and Fullkrug up top.
There is no denying Sterling is perfectly suited to the second striker role in that formation – particularly alongside someone like Fullkrug.
Whether David Sullivan and Tim Steidten pick the phone back up to Boehly before the window closes remains to be seen.
But if Sterling has not found another club by August 30th and West Ham have managed to ship a few out then what’s to say a late loan deal is not possible?
As unlikely as it might be, stranger things have happened in football.
And Chelsea have already been on the phone to West Ham offering Sterling to them so it’s not as far-fetched as it might sound.
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