This is probably the transfer I feel the most conflicted about this summer. Raheem Sterling to Chelsea for around $50M looks on paper to be a great move for both player and club. Still, something about Raheem Sterling to Chelsea at this point in his career feels…off.
I’m not sure what makes me feel so uncertain about Sterling to Chelsea, and I’m really not sure this move will work. Now, I’m not saying this because I don’t like Sterling or Chelsea.
Rather, I think Sterling has been one of England’s best players over the last decade, while Chelsea have arguably been England’s most successful club during that same time period.
But that fact does not conceal that last season was a disappointment for Sterling. Sure, he still scored 13 Premier League goals and had 5 assists, but his involvement was dramatically limited compared to past seasons. With Erling Haaland and Julien Alvarez joining City’s attack force next season, a move away from Manchester was the right choice.
Sterling is far too good a player to be stuck on the bench.
In fact, for a player who is still only 27 (Shocking, I know; I feel like he has been around forever at this point), a high-priced move to one of Manchester City’s main rivals for the Premier League title makes sense logistically for his career. He will become the highest paid Chelsea player, while still playing at the highest level in English football.
What doesn’t make sense is why Chelsea would want him.
For a team that boasts of having Kai Havertz, Christain Pulisic, Mason Mount, Connor Gallagher, Hakeem Ziyech (for now), Timo Werner, and Callum Hudson-Odoi, why did they feel the need to get Raheem Sterling?
I get he is a very talented player with a massive reputation in England. But he lacks one thing that Chelsea desperately needs: he is not a clinical striker.
Since Romelu Lukaku left the club, they have desperately needed a new, clinical striker. That is why they are trying to court Cristiano Ronaldo from Manchester United.
So, why have Chelsea gotten Sterling instead of going out and signed Christopher Nkunku from RB Leipzig or Joao Felix from Atletico Madrid or Lautaro Martinez from Inter Milan? I fear the answer is far scarier to Chelsea fans than what they might think.
This is just a theory, so I’m probably 100% wrong, but I’m getting the feeling that Todd Boehly will be the “huge English headliner transfer only” kind of owner.
Why? Because this is the only time I have ever seen Chelsea linked with signing such a divisive, controversial (in terms of his abilities only) English player.
Now, of course Chelsea have controversially bought English players from English clubs before (ex: Frank Lampard from West Ham in 2001), but not to this degree.
Sterling has long been one of the most talked about English players in the past decade, and Chelsea seemed to be the only English club interested in acquiring his services. With them also being interested in Leeds United’s (another English club) star, Raphinha, and Manchester United’s legend, Cristiano Ronaldo, these potential transfers seem to be a trend.
I haven’t heard anything about Chelsea looking at little know, uncovered gems in Europe, which has been very successful for them in the past (ex: Didier Drogba, Edouard Mendy) this summer.
Also, I have to say that Chelsea have signed massive names before (ex: Fernando Torres, Andriy Shevchenko, N’Golo Kante), but again this time just feels different.
Those players I mentioned had less…”English media-hype baggage”. I guess what I’m trying to say is that I’m starting to see Chelsea buy how Manchester United has bought currently, how Liverpool bought a decade ago, and how Arsenal has bought a few years back.
Those three clubs foolishly overpaid on overpriced, overrated English players/players from English clubs to the thunderous applause of the English media. And they have suffered (and are still suffering: United and Arsenal) for it.
I’m probably 100% wrong and Chelsea will go out and buy the next wonderkid from Sporting Lisbon or Feyenoord. However, at least for now, Boehly and his new transfer staff seem hyper focused on Premier League proven stars.
This isn’t necessarily a bad thing as there are plenty of great players of English clubs. But focusing too heavily on Premier League talent will cause Chelsea to fall behind and miss out on much cheaper and better options around Europe.
Anyway, back to Raheem Sterling. I think this move is a great one for him, seeing as he will be the starting right winger for Chelsea come the start of the Premier League season. He will get more game time and more use under Thomas Tuchel than he would under Pep.
I just hope, for all Cheslea fan’s sake, that my observations about Todd Boehly and his new Chelsea will not come true.
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