September 12th 2024.
Former football player and now sports analyst, Graeme Souness, is having a tough time grasping Chelsea's approach to transfers. He believes that their decision to replace Raheem Sterling with Jadon Sancho is just another example of their questionable strategy.
To everyone's surprise, Sterling was deemed surplus to requirements and was quickly snatched up by Arsenal on loan until the end of the season. It has been reported that the Gunners are only paying a fraction of Sterling's salary, leaving Chelsea to cover the majority of it. This move not only benefits Arsenal, but it also weakens Chelsea's chances of success, according to Souness.
With Sterling gone, Enzo Maresca's chances of stepping up and succeeding in the team are now even slimmer. And to make matters worse, Chelsea has brought in Jadon Sancho, who has struggled to make an impact in the Premier League since his transfer to Manchester United three years ago. Souness believes that this decision is a grave error on Chelsea's part and will only create more problems for them in the long run.
"They're bringing in all these young players on long contracts and suddenly Sterling becomes surplus to requirements," Souness expressed on Three Up Front, William Hill's podcast. "I think Arsenal now have a fully motivated, angry Sterling with a point to prove. I've been critical of their spending and the direction of the football club, but I think Chelsea are creating a monster for themselves."
Meanwhile, fellow podcast guest and former football player, Troy Deeney, sees the addition of Sterling to Arsenal's team as a positive move. He believes that having a player with a winning mentality and experience will only strengthen their chances of winning the title this season.
"The addition of Sterling is a massive upside for Arsenal. From a purely footballing point of view, he's a winner," Deeney shared. "He knows the style of football needed to win, which he learned under Pep Guardiola at Man City."
Deeney also pointed out that the arrival of Sterling will push other players like Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli, who play on the left side, to step up their game. He believes that Sterling's presence will motivate them to work harder and improve. Furthermore, he suggests that Sterling can also provide relief for Bukayo Saka on the right side, as he tired towards the end of last season.
In the end, it seems that Souness and Deeney have differing opinions on Chelsea's transfer strategy and the impact of Sterling's move to Arsenal. Only time will tell if this decision will prove beneficial or detrimental to both clubs.
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