According to The Pitch Prospect, West Ham are interested in signing Raheem Sterling from Chelsea in January.
Sterling hasn’t played at all since May, having been left out of the squad by now-departed coach Enzo Maresca.
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The winger has been training alone and away from the Blues first team since becoming part of Maresca’s ‘Bomb Squad’.
His final appearance for Arsenal was the final game of his loan spell last season, when his career at Stamford Bridge ended.
Sterling will now consider a move away from the club this winter after failing to secure a move in the summer.
And West Ham are understood to be eyeing a possible approach for the England international this month.
However, one condition must be met if the Hammers want to complete a deal.
It is believed that Sterling only wants to leave Chelsea on a permanent contract and not on loan again.
As things stand, he is unwilling to leave the club on loan unless there is an obligation to buy.
However, West Ham are considering a possible loan move, with Sterling on a £300,000-a-week wages at the Blues.
However, if they want to move, they will need to include a permanent clause in the deal.
And at the moment it seems unlikely that this will happen.
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Sterling’s struggles
The 31-year-old looked for a move away from Chelsea in the summer window but was unable to secure a move.
He was linked with Fulham and Crystal Palace all along and a potential deadline deal with the Cottagers failed to materialize.
There were rumors that West Ham were also considering a summer signing, but they were unable to sign him.
This left him stranded and sidelined at the Blues, with his last appearance for the club taking place in May 2024.
When he was on loan at Arsenal last season he got some valuable minutes and made 17 Premier League appearances in total.
But now, back at Chelsea, he hasn’t featured at all this season and needs another transfer.
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West Ham waste no time
West Ham’s interest in Sterling comes amid early excitement in the transfer market at the start of the new year.
The Pitch Prospect understands the Hammers are close to finalizing a deal to sign Gil Vicente striker Pablo.
They agreed on a fee of 21 million euros [£18.3m] plus €3 million [£2.6m] in additions to bring the 21-year-old to the London Stadium.
He undergoes a medical examination before joining Nuno Espirito Santo’s team, who let Niclas Fullkrug go.
As well as Pablo, West Ham are also in advanced talks to secure the services of Lazio centre-forward Taty Castellanos.
The 23-year-old has played for the Italian team since 2023, where he scored 22 goals in 98 games in all competitions.