Shaka Hislop, the former West Ham and Newcastle goalkeeper turned pundit, has firmly cautioned West Ham against pursuing Raheem Sterling. Speaking to ESPN back in August 2024, Hislop challenged the logic behind signing the former England star, saying:
“Sterling has done nothing in the last two years that suggests he makes [a team] any better, even as a squad player. … For a £20 million package or £150,000-a-week for a player who is there to cover Saka … I find that a lot of money to pay for a player who doesn’t make you better.”
Fast-forward to the summer of 2025, and West Ham find themselves linked with Sterling once more. With Mohammed Kudus having departed for Tottenham, manager Graham Potter is keen to reinforce his attacking options. Sterling, now back in Chelsea’s fold after a disappointing loan stint at Arsenal—where he scored just once in 28 appearances—became a London-based option once again. Clubs like Fulham, Crystal Palace, and Juventus were also rumoured to be keeping tabs, though Sterling reportedly preferred staying in London.
Hislop’s skeptical stance still resonates: West Ham would be taking on significant financial risk for a player whose recent form raises serious questions. Hislop’s view—focused on value, impact, and the tangible return on investment—warns against being swayed by past pedigree.
Moreover, the numbers don’t lie. Comparing Sterling’s recent two-season output (11 goals and 16 assists across 71 appearances) with Kudus’s (19 goals and 13 assists in 80 appearances), the Ghanaian clearly delivered more end-product and consistency, suggesting that replicating Kudus’s impact wouldn’t be simple with Sterling in his stead.
Ultimately, Shaka Hislop’s harsh but reasoned judgement is that West Ham would be wise to look elsewhere. The club’s financial prudence, combined with Potter’s need for attacking reliability and sharpness, makes Sterling a questionable proposition—especially when viewed through Hislop’s lens of “does this player actually improve you?”
Let me know if you’d like to dive deeper into Sterling’s 2024–25 loan performance or explore better-suited options for West Ham.
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