The transfer window is already starting to take shape for Leeds just two days in.
West Ham have beaten Leeds to the signing of Taty Castellanos from Lazio – sealing a £25.3m agreement for the Argentina international. The Times say the South American was a long-term target for Leeds, having tracked him since the summer of 2023, so the 49ers will surely be a bit dejected.
Now, another target could move elsewhere as Raheem Sterling shows a desire to join Fulham.
Raheem Sterling eager to seal Fulham move despite Leeds United links
Sterling was linked to Leeds back in the middle of November, as his representatives were tasked with finding a way out of Chelsea for their client – who is yet to play a single second of football this season after Enzo Maresca banished him from the squad.
Should Leeds sign Raheem Sterling? 🤔
He hasn't played in the Premier League since MAY… 😬
Axel Disasi – another linked to Leeds – was also exiled alongside the England international.
However, a story from The Times now states that Sterling wants to join Fulham on a permanent deal this winter, eager to remain in London and stay close to his family.
The 31-year-old has a son in the academy at Arsenal and is understandably keen to be present.
It is said that Sterling may actually get his wish thanks to a player already at Fulham in Adama Traore, who has been offered a contract by West Ham. An exit for the Spain international would leave an opening for the Chelsea outcast at Craven Cottage.
By all accounts, there is nothing to suggest the man born in Kingston is willing to relocate as far as Yorkshire, so a move to Leeds seems to be firmly off the cards.
That will come as a slight blow to Daniel Farke, who could have used the experienced Sterling as an option in one of the striker positions, or even as a wing-back where he previously played under Graham Potter.
A permanent deal for Raheem Sterling would pose problems for Leeds United regardless
Even if Sterling did want to join Leeds, the fact he prefers a permanent exit from Chelsea would have surely been a problem.
The 49ers have PSR issues heading into this transfer window, with the Daily Mail claiming that £25m could be found if Leeds discover an irresistible deal they desperately want to do.
Who do you want Leeds to sign in January? A striker surely has to be the priority!
Therefore, what Leeds cannot do this winter is waste money, and a permanent move for Sterling, even on a free, would still leave the 49ers needing to meet his enormous £325,000-a-week salary.
Even getting close to it would require a huge financial commitment.
For example, paying the Chelsea forward a sum of £250,000-a-week would require Leeds to shell out roughly £6m in wages just to have him for the remaining six months of the season.
It might take Sterling a month or two to even get up to speed having played no football whatsoever this term, so it is probably for the best that he has his heart set on a move to Fulham.
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