Graham Potter’s bond with Raheem Sterling to ‘set up Wolves move for Ben Doak’
West Ham boss Graham Potter’s previous relationship with Raheem Sterling at Chelsea could be set to help Wolves land Ben Doak from Liverpool.
West Ham’s struggles under both Julen Lopetegui and Potter eventually saw them finish 14th in the Premier League last season, and the need for fresh faces throughout the squad has been clear this summer.
Their transfer business has been pretty slow so far, with El-Hadji Malick Diouf signed from Slavia Prague and both Callum Wilson and Kyle Walker-Peters signed on free transfers, but they could bolster their attack further with the signing of Chelsea outcast Sterling.
30-year-old Sterling was left out of Enzo Maresca’s Club World Cup squad earlier this summer, and he is approaching the Stamford Bridge exit door as the new season nears following a tough time out on loan at Arsenal.
Former scout Mick Brown recently revealed to Football Insider that Sterling is open to joining Fulham this summer as he aims to extend his stay in the Premier League, and new developments of the Hammers’ interest in his signature could have a knock-on effect on another transfer over the coming weeks.
West Ham linked to Sterling and Liverpool’s Ben Doak
According to a new report from talkSPORT (5 August), West Ham are among the clubs keeping tabs on Sterling’s services, with Fulham, Crystal Palace and Juventus among the other sides with an interest in the former England international.
They state that Sterling’s preference would be to stay in London, and the Hammers seem to be ahead of their competitors in the race for his signature, as talkSPORT claim that Potter enjoyed a good working relationship with him while he was in charge at Stamford Bridge.
The ex-Brighton boss is clearly trying to bolster his right-wing options this summer, as journalist David Lynch has reported, via X, that Liverpool youngster Ben Doak is being tracked by both West Ham and Wolves, with a move away from Anfield possible.
https://x.com/davidlynchlfc/status/1952611000634466317?s=46&t=busTurDhk_-RswKrlS6YdAWest Ham’s Sterling advantage could allow Wolves to sign Doak
Potter’s good relationship with Sterling could allow the Irons to steal a march on their capital rivals and sign the 30-year-old before the window closes.
West Ham surely only need one right-winger through the door ahead of the new campaign, however, due to Jarrod Bowen’s status as their most important player and preference to deploy a five-back formation, and so if they do sign Sterling, that would likely end their interest in Doak.
| Appearances | Goals | Assists |
| 396 | 123 | 75 |
With that in mind, Wolves could then be allowed to have a seemingly clear run at signing the highly-rated Reds wide man, after former scout Brown revealed to Football Insider in February that Doak has no long-term future at Liverpool.
Wolves have made some shrewd additions to their attack in recent weeks, with Fer Lopez signed from Celta Vigo and Jhon Arias brought in from Fluminense, but Doak would also be a wise addition after he notched three goals and seven assists in 24 appearances for Middlesborough last term.
If the Molineux outfit are serious about signing him this summer, then they may well be allowed to have free reign of negotiations if Sterling makes his way across the capital soon.