Report: West Ham United considering move to sign Chelsea forward | OneFootball

West Ham United Interested in Move to Sign Chelsea Star

Raheem Sterling could be set to finally leave Chelsea with a surprise club in the mix, according to talkSPORT. Any move away from Chelsea only happens if it becomes permanent, or at least carries an “obligation to buy”. That single requirement dictates the pace of talks, and who ultimately compromises.

West Ham move depends on one clause

As talkSPORT put it, “West Ham are interested in signing Raheem Sterling from Chelsea in January.”

Interest alone is not enough, though. Sterling’s position is firm. He is believed to only want to leave Chelsea on a permanent deal, and not on loan again. As things stand, he is not open to leaving the club on loan, unless there is an “obligation to buy” involved. In a window dominated by low risk deals, that stance forces potential buyers to commit.

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Chelsea situation after Maresca exit

Sterling has not played since May, having been exiled by now departed manager Enzo Maresca. talkSPORT report he has been training alone and away from the first team since becoming part of Maresca’s ‘bomb squad’. With Chelsea now searching for a new head coach, some will wonder if the situation can be revisited.

The evidence points the other way. Sterling’s last appearance for Chelsea came in May 2024. His most recent minutes came on loan at Arsenal, where he made 17 Premier League appearances. Useful, but not transformative, and it is telling that talkSPORT describe his Chelsea career as “over”.

He was linked to Fulham and Crystal Palace in the summer, and a potential deadline day deal with Fulham did not happen. It left him stranded and ousted, a familiar outcome for players on the edge of a rebuild.

Wages, loan logic, and January reality

West Ham’s interest comes with a financial pinch. talkSPORT note the Hammers are looking at a potential loan due to Sterling’s £300,000-per-week wages. That figure turns negotiation into compromise, who pays what, and for how long.

If West Ham want flexibility, and Sterling wants a permanent outcome, the midpoint is the “obligation to buy”. But that clause raises its own debate, fee, triggers, and whether Chelsea would subsidise salary to get it done. talkSPORT’s bottom line is blunt. If West Ham want a move done, they are going to have to add a permanent clause, and currently it “appears that it is unlikely to happen”.

West Ham market activity signals intent

West Ham are moving early elsewhere. talkSPORT understands they are close to completing a deal for Gil Vicente striker Pablo, and are in advanced talks for Lazio forward Taty Castellanos. That momentum suggests ambition under Nuno Espirito Santo, but it also means budgets will be stretched.

Sterling may still appeal as a statement signing, yet January rewards deals that are clean and decisive. Until there is agreement on permanence, this story risks drifting, like a ‘peace offering’ or a ‘No brainer’, memorable lines, but not a completed transfer.

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From a Chelsea fan’s perspective, this report lands with a mix of relief and frustration. Relief because Sterling’s situation has been uncomfortable to watch, especially with him training alone after being labelled part of the ‘bomb squad’. Frustration because it speaks to another expensive contract becoming a January headache, right when the club should be focused on appointing a new head coach after Enzo Maresca’s exit.

If Sterling will only go permanently, fair enough. Another loan risks more limbo, and Chelsea need clarity on the wage bill. But the £300,000-per-week wages are the elephant in the room. If West Ham want a loan, and Sterling wants an “obligation to buy”, someone has to blink on money, Chelsea might have to contribute, otherwise the market shrinks quickly.

What worries me is timing. A new manager will want to assess the squad, yet Sterling’s presence, even in the background, becomes a constant subplot. If the club can engineer a structured exit, even one that accepts a lower fee, it could be worth it to clean the slate for the next coach. West Ham feel like a sensible football fit, but only if the numbers stop being fantasy and start being workable.