Graeme Souness is struggling to understand Chelsea’s transfer strategy (Picture: Getty)
Graeme Souness has warned Chelsea’s owners their transfer strategy is ‘creating a monster’ with the decision to replace Raheem Sterling with Jadon Sancho another example of their questionable approach.
Having publicly deemed Sterling surplus to requirements, Arsenal pounced on transfer deadline day to sign the experienced England international on loan until the end of the season.
Subsequent reports claim the Gunners are paying less than a third of the 29-year-old’s salary, which means the Blues are effectively paying around £10million to let Sterling represent one of their main rivals until June.
Souness fears that decision represents a grave error, with Enzo Maresca’s chances of succeeding only further undermined by the signing of Jadon Sancho who has struggled to adapt to the Premier League since his move to Manchester United three years ago.
‘They’re bringing in all these young players on long contracts and Sterling suddenly becomes surplus to requirements,’ Souness told 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.
Raheem Sterling joined Arsenal on loan from Chelsea on transfer deadline day (Picture: Getty)
Raheem Sterling thrived when working alongside Mikel Arteta at Manchester City (Picture: Getty)
‘These players will go for next-to-nothing, and they’ll have to pay them to go. Jadon Sancho, who they’ve got in to replace him, is not as good – he’s just a name on a team sheet.’
Fellow podcast guest Troy Deeney that the addition of Sterling is a positive for the Gunners, and having a player with winning experience among the squad will bolster their title chances this season.
Deeney said: ‘The addition of Sterling is a massive upside for Arsenal. From a purely footballing point of view, he’s a winner.
‘He knows the style of football needed to win which he learned under Pep Guardiola at Man City.
‘Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli, who both play on that left hand side, will be looking at the addition of Sterling and think, ‘hold on a second, we need to step up here’.
‘With the greatest respect to Trossard, I don’t think he’s on Sterling’s level. Sterling can also play on that right-hand-side to give Bukayo Saka a break because he tired towards the end of last season.’
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