The transfer window closes on Monday and Tottenham may well be getting desperate, but I’m begging the club not to do the most Spursy transfer of all time.
I hate using that word, Spursy, but it really does apply in some circumstances. As many fans joke, Tottenham Hotspur Football Club really does feel like a social experiment to see how much pain people can endure.
This season alone, we’ve suffered through yet another injury crisis, a manager who can’t stop saying and doing the wrong thing, and players arguing with supporters who are simply unhappy that their team keeps losing and playing poorly.
If that wasn’t enough, this January transfer window has been rather abysmal. There have only been two confirmed deals for Spurs so far, and I’m starting to panic that the next player to arrive at the club could be Raheem Sterling.
Signing Raheem Sterling would be typical of Tottenham
Let’s look at the evidence, shall we? First of all, Thomas Frank said Spurs want more signings before the window shuts on Monday.
Secondly, a new left winger is a priority for Tottenham. We can all see that the squad is thin in that area, and Frank has admitted as much.
So, why Sterling? Well, he’s got Premier League experience for a start, but more importantly, he’s available on a free transfer now. It would be oh so Spursy to go for the cheap option to solve such a big problem, wouldn’t it?
Think back to two years ago, when Tottenham decided to sign Timo Werner on loan instead of recruiting a genuine top player to bolster the wing positions. We’re terrifyingly close to that repeating itself now, but I hope I’m wrong.
Please, Spurs, don’t sign Sterling
For Sterling, the move makes a lot of sense, too. He’s clearly on some kind of mission to play for the whole Big Six like Thanos collecting infinity stones; he’s only got Spurs and Man United left to get the full set!
However, this doesn’t have to be inevitable. Spurs can resist and sign a player that will actually make a difference to the short and long-term fortunes of the club.
Sterling completely flopped at Arsenal, let’s be honest. He scored one goal and got five assists last season despite playing 28 games for the Gunners. Granted, he did alright in 2023/24 with ten goals and 11 assists for Chelsea, but the drop-off has been swift and severe since then.
The fact that Chelsea have let Sterling go for nothing right now should tell us all we need to know. He is simply not the kind of player who can significantly improve the Tottenham squad. He was a few years ago, but those days are long gone.
Please, Johan Lange, if you’re reading this: do not live in the past and think this is the kind of shrewd move that can pay dividends. It’s a disaster waiting to happen, and I hope you’ve not even considered this signing like I fear.