Report: Tottenham Hotspur considering move to sign former Chelsea forward | OneFootball

Tottenham Weigh Sterling Option as Free Agent Market Opens

Tottenham Hotspur are exploring the free agent market with growing intent, and one name now firmly under internal discussion is Raheem Sterling. As reported by TeamTalk, Spurs are giving serious consideration to a move for the England international following his mutual contract termination at Chelsea, with senior figures at the club indicating that a deal “should not be totally ruled out”.

Sterling became available this week after agreeing to end the final 18 months of his Stamford Bridge contract, closing a difficult chapter that never truly aligned with Chelsea’s sporting reset. The 31-year-old has not played competitively since May 2025, having spent last season on loan at Arsenal where he failed to carve out a sustained role. Even so, his pedigree remains difficult to ignore.

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Frank Gives Green Light to Internal Talks

One notable development is the stance of Thomas Frank. Sources suggest the Tottenham head coach is open to the idea of adding Sterling to his squad, particularly given the lack of proven depth in wide areas. With Spurs competing across the Premier League and Champions League, experience has become a growing theme in recruitment discussions.

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Sterling’s profile fits that brief. Four Premier League titles, over 100 top flight goals and a track record of delivering in high pressure moments all carry weight. Internally, Spurs see him as a potential short term reinforcement rather than a long term cornerstone, a distinction that shapes how negotiations could unfold.

Financial Reality Shapes Spurs Thinking

The primary complication remains financial. Sterling was earning in excess of £300,000 a week at Chelsea, a figure well above Tottenham’s established wage structure. Any move would require a significant reduction, and sources indicate that Spurs would only entertain a short term agreement if talks progress.

Interest elsewhere has been steady. Sterling prefers to remain in London for family reasons, which places Tottenham alongside West Ham United, Fulham and Crystal Palace in the domestic picture. Nottingham Forest have also made exploratory contact, while overseas options exist.

Napoli are among the European sides monitoring the situation, although their sporting director Giovanni Manna has described a deal as “difficult” due to Sterling’s “significant financial expectations”. Major League Soccer clubs have also shown interest as Sterling assesses his options with the 2026 World Cup in mind.

Calculated Risk With No Transfer Fee

From Tottenham’s perspective, the absence of a transfer fee changes the equation. This would be a low risk move in structural terms, albeit potentially costly in wages. Spurs are conscious that Sterling’s lack of recent game time cannot be overlooked, and that any deal would need clear performance related safeguards.

For now, this remains a consideration rather than an advanced pursuit. Yet the fact Sterling is under serious discussion, with managerial backing, underlines how Spurs are scanning the market for experienced solutions as they balance ambition with restraint.

Our View – EPL Index Analysis

This report raises as many red flags as it does intriguing possibilities. Sterling’s CV is undeniable, but Tottenham fans have been here before. Big name, big wages, big questions. The concern is whether this is a move driven by genuine tactical need or by opportunism dressed up as experience.

There is an uneasy feeling about bringing in a player who has not featured competitively since May 2025 and who struggled to make an impact on loan at Arsenal. Spurs supporters will ask whether this represents smart squad building or a short term gamble that blocks minutes for younger, hungrier options. The idea of breaking wage structure norms, even slightly, sits uncomfortably with a fanbase well aware of past lessons.

Yes, there is no transfer fee, but wages still count. Paying even a reduced version of Sterling’s £300,000 a week salary for a short term fix feels risky for a club trying to establish coherence and sustainability. Tottenham fans want progression, not patchwork.

There is also scepticism around motivation. Is Sterling choosing Spurs because the project excites him, or because London suits his lifestyle and options are narrowing elsewhere. Supporters will want clarity on that point above all others.

If this happens, it needs to be on Spurs’ terms, short, incentive based and with no illusions. Otherwise, many fans will struggle to see this as anything more than a name that once sparkled, now arriving with more doubt than certainty.