‘I can’t believe it’ – Raheem Sterling’s real Chelsea wage leaves expert gobsmacked
Fulham could agree a deal to sign Chelsea winger Raheem Sterling before the end of the transfer window.
The 30-year-old looks set to leave Stamford Bridge this summer, as he is well down the pecking order under Enzo Maresca.
Last season, Sterling spent the campaign on loan at Arsenal, but started just seven Premier League games and didn’t manage to score a single top-flight goal.
The former England international has been linked with a move to Fulham, but there have been some question marks raised over the cost of any potential transfer.
Everton’s former chief Keith Wyness – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – believes that the Cottagers will be able to strike a cut-price deal to bring in the Chelsea man.
‘Fulham to agree £5m Sterling loan, Chelsea will subsidise wages’
Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, Wyness insisted that Sterling is only likely to move to Fulham on loan, with the Cottagers paying a high loan fee to Chelsea.
The Blues have struggled to whip up much interest in the 30-year-old, who has struggled for form in recent campaigns.
Wyness added that Chelsea will have to subsidise some of Sterling’s £300,000 per week wages, as it’s the “only way” a deal will be agreed.
He told Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast: “I think we’re looking at a very high loan fee and some sort of wage contribution from Chelsea.
“As I understand it, I can’t believe it, but I’m told that Sterling’s on £300k per week. That’s a big, big number, so I think that’s the only way Chelsea could get anything, because he isn’t going to play a role for them in the first team this year. I just don’t see it at all.
“At Fulham, he could operate as a winger and he’s certainly got something to give there to a degree. It’s going to be something like a £5m loan fee, which is high, and then a contribution from Chelsea. Can they get to 50/50 on the wages? I don’t know.
“Fulham have got the highest season ticket prices in the league and the highest tickets. So they’ve got some sort of money, even though it’s a low-capacity ground.
“Putting it all on Raheem Sterling as your big bet, that’s a question mark. Maybe they should just leave Chelsea to handle that big problem themselves. That’s what they’ll be doing in negotiations, making Chelsea very aware that they’re gonna get stuck with a big bill unless they help them reduce the cost slightly.
“Fulham may have a few cards here to play but I think Sterling has still got something to give Fulham for the next couple of seasons. Mr. Sterling has been around for what seems like forever. We’ve all watched him play for many, many years now, and I remember him at Liverpool.
“Let’s see if Fulham can negotiate, but I think they’re in a strong position, with Chelsea having that big millstone of a huge wage around their necks.”
‘Fulham must give Marco Silva signings’
Meanwhile, Marco Silva rejected advances from Tottenham, Al-Hilal, and Juventus this summer but the Fulham boss may be regretting that decision.
That is according to football finance expert Dan Plumley, who claims that without new additions, the former Everton boss may consider leaving the Cottagers.
Fulham have only made one signing so far this summer, bringing in goalkeeper Benjamin Lecomte from Ligue 2 side Montpellier.
The lack of transfer activity has been a source of frustration for many supporters.
Silva rejected advances from several bigger clubs to remain at Fulham, but the club are yet to properly support the Portuguese boss in the transfer market this summer.
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