What could be more exciting than raiding Chelsea yet again? What could go wrong? The recent success of Jorginho stands as incontrovertible proof that we can’t go wrong pilfering Pensioners. Sigh.You can tell that it’s a slow news week when we’re talking transfer rumours. It’s 28 February, 28 days removed from the January window and something 471 before the summer window opens. With that in mind, we might want to take rumours of a move for Chelsea’s Raheem Sterling with more than a few hefty grains of salt. On one hand, I’ve come to trust Arteta’s transfer intuition. On the other, this doesn’t pass the smell-test.
Arteta worked with Sterling for a few years at City and therefore knows a thing or two about his comment and his capabilities. At his best, Sterling could slice open a defense with his electric pace and footwork. He’s just a few years removed from a season in which he bagged 31 goals across all competitions for Man City. Adding hiim to the squad in the summer would add depth and versatility and a winning mentality, all qualities that are in short supply over here even if we do manage to win the Prem, the Europa League, or both.
And yet.
He’s 28 until he’s 29 (are we still doing that, or is it done and dusted?). He turned 28 in December nad has been working his way through a few injuries. That electric pace seems to be losing electrons.In his last two full seasons, he’s gotten just 31 goals in 96 appearances. This season, he’s only gotten six goals in 25. While some of that may be attributable to Potter’s apparent allergy to his players scoring, a larger part of it must be attributable to Sterling’s own looming mortaltiy. Put simply, he’s not the fleet-footed footballer he once was, and we’ve been down this road before with our own Theo Walcott. When a player depends on pace to beat his man, he’s got a narrow window in which to excel. That window appears to be closing on Sterling, and I say that as someone who admires the man for his courage in speaking out about off-pitch issues.
On something close to £325k a week and probably commanding an exorbitant transfer fee as well, he’d gobble up a huge amount of our summer budget. Do we really want to lend a helping hand to Todd Boehly’s pet project while taking on a player we don’t really need? We have Saka, Martinelli and Jesus (soon). We also have waiting in the wings (aha—see what I did there? Half-clever, that) Vieira, Nelson, and Marquinhos, all of them projects, true, but young and hungry prospects.
Sterling is probably angling for the last big contract of his career. That pace of his will only decline even further over time. If he wants to complete some kind of tour of the Prem’s big clubs after having played for Liverpool, Man City, and Chelsea, let him try his luck at Man U or Tottenham. I bear him no ill will or hostility. I’m a well-wisher in that I don’t wish him any specific harm.
Source: woolwich1886.com
