Fulham are mulling whether to make a surprise move for out-of-favour Chelsea winger Raheem Sterling, according to Si Phillips.
A significant number of Stamford Bridge squad players are set to be moved on this summer and England international Sterling, whose loan spell at Arsenal last season did not go well, is not in Enzo Maresca’s future plans. The 30 year-old’s wage demands – he currently earns around £325,000-a-week – and his desire to remain in London have been stumbling blocks to securing an early exit this summer.
Phillips, the co-founder of Chelsea News, suggests on his Substack that Sterling’s intransigence is infuriating the Blues:
“SPTC sources are still hearing that he ideally does not want to move away from his family in London and wants to stay there, vastly reducing his options and making it frustrating for all involved. If Sterling truly does only want to stay in London, then he is going to need to lower his wage demands, which he may well do.
After having spent last season on loan with Arsenal, Sterling is once again looking for a new club to join. We understand that Fulham have been alerted by his availability this summer and are weighing up whether they can make a move. However, his wages put them off at the moment and will need to go down if they are to land him. But they like the player and there is interest from them this summer.”
Fulham are looking to add a winger to Marco Silva’s squad this summer and admire the former Liverpool and Manchester City man, but the terms of the deal would have to be right to make this move happen. The Whites would be open to a loan, but only if their near neighbours paid the majority of Sterling’s wages.
Personally this could be quite an astute signing if and a big if all the boxes are ticked in all the right places? Yes he has not pulled up any trees since leaving City and he will always miss a sitter or two! Coming to a team like us where expectations will be somewhat lifted in comparison to where his been the last two seasons. Still has the ability to be more than influential. His a player I really think Marco can rekindle perhaps not to England status but to be more than a genuine threat up front. We could do with one or two genuine quick types.
According to a Chelsea fan. This rumours get more and more ridiculous.
I sincerely hope not. Sterling hasn’t been a top tier performer since 2018. This would be a retrograde step – even if we might ‘win’ a few more penalties.
Avoid. I don’t disagree it will be fun to have him but he is an ageing player with no sell on value (if we loan him) who will taken up significant wage budget (even if Chelsea pay a bulk of his salary).
We’re much better off investing in a younger high potential winger with sell on value.
Calvert Lewin, Sterling, Palinha – we’re turning into a retirement home!
We seem to be linked to all the old players that are past their best so it’s a big no from me.
Silva has never rehabilitated a veteran player so even if wages went down, there is no way Sterling would fit in this system because he’s never played at a higher level and Silva has never worked with a veteran who needed to return to their top level. Never. Ever. No once!
Leave him to rot on the Chelsea bench ( if he’s good enough to get on it ). They think they are really clever offering players astronomical wages, let them pay him for doing nothing. Anyway he would struggle to make our 1st team
I’d be worrying a bout his form as much as his wages he’s lost his pace and from what l have seen his desire for the game not good enough to get in our side sad how far his gone down hill over the hill at 30 not got the ability of Willian
Never been a fan. Even when he was at his best he just ran a lot, normally into a blind alley. Has No finish!! Agree with C.B leave him to rot down there.
No way this is an agent pushing a club like Fulham for him to get an easy pay day stay at Chelsea and hopefully he might get a game
Give me Luke Harris over him any day
Jordan, what about Willian?
@Jordan – rehabilitated – Willian??
But I agree with consensus, Sterling is an awful idea. Awful. His attitude and entitlement would corrupt the dressing room and the squad.
Would really put the cat amongst the pigeons. Best not.
This seems to be a regular thing now. Look at all the names we’ve been linked with that we mess about dragging it on then other clubs just swoop in and sign them so were left to grab the unwanted oldies. Example that cherki guy was it £12mill we was linked with? Not to mention the rest. But now its all as beens and injury prone players that believe they deserve a massive pay cheque.
Chelsea have been Mug enough to had our all these stupid contracts so why would Sterling move for less money when he’s guaranteed a huge pay cheque by the Bank of Stupid ?
Clickbait
If he is committed, i would love to see him in our colours. Only if he is willing to run and sacrifice himself fir the team like all other players, we can’t afford any primadonnas.
He has always been overrated in my view.
Would be useful to us but those wages are absolutely outrageous.
Chelsea will be stuck with him unless something gives.