Those Raheem Sterling to West Ham United rumours just will not go away as the Chelsea misfit enters 2026 hoping to make up for what was a wasted half-season in the Stamford Bridge bomb squad.
Of course, it remains to be seen if the departure of Enzo Maresca changes anything for the former England international. New managerial appointments often bring about clean slates, and Raheem Sterling will be hoping to prove to Liam Rosenior – presuming the Strasbourg boss does swap one BlueCo club for another – that he still has a lot to offer.
As things stand, though, the signs suggest that Sterling’s shelf life has long since passed as a Chelsea player.
How would you FEEL if West Ham signed Raheem Sterling? 🤔
Another Jesse Lingard? Or another over-the-hill flop?
Now, according to reporter Ben Jacobs, West Ham made ‘checks’ on Sterling over the summer.
And as Nuno Espirito Santo looks to add attacking depth and a reliable stream of goals, West Ham United have again found themselves front and centre in the rumours surrounding a winger with over 100 Premier League strikes and four first-division winners’ medals.
Ben Jacobs explains why Raheem Sterling will not join West Ham United from Chelsea
Speaking to talkSPORT though, Jacobs cannot envisage Sterling ending the month as a West Ham player.
At least, not unless he is willing to take a massive pay cut. Even then, Sterling would have to perform a dramatic U-turn regarding his concerns about a West Ham side facing up to a brutal survival fight.
“He only wants a permanent move,” Jacobs says. “West Ham will not be able to do that. One, because of the wage, two, because Sterling won’t join a club that’s fighting relegation permanently. And he’s also not prepared to do a conditional obligation where, if they stay up, he ends up joining.
“So, it’s going to be really difficult for West Ham.”
This comes as West Ham’s pursuit of Adama Traore hits the buffers.
Club insider Sean Whetstone claims that Fulham have ‘moved the goalposts’ and are now demanding a ‘massive fee’, despite the fact the former Barcelona speedster is due to become a free-agent in July.
And, like with Sterling, Traore’s wages are an issue for West Ham. He reportedly earns a staggering £120,000-a-week at Craven Cottage.
Speaking of Fulham, is there a world in which Sterling ends up replacing Traore in Marco Silva’s squad, for all intents and purposes?
How do you PREDICT Pablo and Castellanos will get on at West Ham?
And who is coming next, do you think?
Sterling may be open to joining Fulham amid Adama Traore doubts
Cottagers expert Jack Kelly certainly believes that Sterling may be tempted to join a club who, going into the weekend’s action, have put a 13 point buffer between themselves and West Ham in 18th.
“Raheem Sterling is an interesting one,” Kelly says. “I think that all of the rumours about Raheem Sterling are all agent-led.”
“It’s his agent going; ‘You haven’t played any football this season. You’re in a bomb squad at them lot down the road. You need to play some football. Not even because it’s a World Cup year, but just for the sake of your career, for the sake of your mental well-being, for the sake of your family’.
“Raheem Sterling, like I say, I think it’s more his agent trying to look after his client and trying to find him a new club.
“If he has turned down West Ham and been like, actually, ‘I think Fulham would be a better fit for me’, that probably feeds into the fact of where West Ham are in the table.
“He doesn’t want to be in a relegation battle. Let’s not lie. Fulham are a little bit more comfortable in mid-table, so that would suit him more as well.”
West Ham completed the signing of Pablo Felipe from Gil Vicente on Friday night. The £17.4 million striker is the first addition of the Nuno Espirito Santo era.
Lazio striker Taty Castellanos is expected to join Pablo in the capital too, perhaps in time for the midweek trip to Nottingham Forest.
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