West Ham in three-club race to sign player who’s just had deal terminated
West Ham have joined Fulham and Crystal Palace in registering their interest in Raheem Sterling as he seeks a new challenge following his Chelsea exit.
Sterling left Chelsea by mutual consent earlier this week after six months out in the cold following his return from a loan spell at Arsenal.
He was a regular starter in his first two campaigns at Stamford Bridge, with 19 goals and 12 assists in 81 games, but was sent to the Gunners last season after being told he was not part of Enzo Maresca’s plans.
Sterling struggled to make an impact in North London, with just one goal in 28 games, and he returned to Chelsea last summer but was again frozen out by the Italian boss.
West Ham were linked to Sterling at the start of the January window, and they could strike a deal to sign him now that he is a free agent, as I revealed on the latest edition of Football Insider’s Transfer Insider podcast.
West Ham are battling Fulham and Palace for Sterling’s signature
Fulham have led the odds to sign Sterling over the last few weeks, while Crystal Palace have also been linked with a move for his services.
West Ham are eyeing more additions before next Monday’s deadline as they battle to avoid relegation to the Championship, and Sterling could well be a viable option if they present a better offer than their fellow London clubs.
Speaking on the Transfer Insider podcast, I explained: “With Raheem Sterling now becoming a free agent, I think there will be a lot of options for him. He doesn’t have to sign before the window closes next week, he can sign outside the window as well, being a free agent.
“Fulham have been strongly linked. Crystal Palace have looked at him. West Ham earlier in this transfer window had shown interest in Sterling as well.
“I don’t think Sterling has made any definitive decision on his future. He is open to all options.”
Tottemham agree deal to sign West Ham starlet Elisha Sowunmi
West Ham are mainly focusing on the present rather than the future right now, as they sit 18th, with five points between them and safety.
Nuno has still championed some youngsters, like Ollie Scarles and Ezra Mayers, but Sowunmi has not yet made the step up to the first team despite scoring regularly at youth level.
Football Insider revealed earlier this week that Celtic were plotting a move for Sowunmi, with the 18-year-old having signed his first professional contract last summer after he registered 16 goals and five assists in all competitions for their under-18s.
Sources have now told Football Insider that Tottenham have won the race to sign Sowunmi, beating off interest from the Hoops and Club Brugge after tracking him for over a year.