Signing Raheem Sterling would be ‘lift off’ for Newcastle United fans.
That’s according to Don Hutchison, who has pondered why the Magpies haven’t been linked with a move for the Manchester City winger.
Sterling is currently being heavily linked with a move to Chelsea. It would be a huge signing for Thomas Tuchel, who is looking to close the gap on Man City and Liverpool.
The England international is one of the Premier League’s best players, and it would be a real surprise to see him leave the Etihad.
However, similar to Sadio Mane leaving Liverpool, now could be the perfect time for City and Sterling to say their goodbyes.
But what about a move to the North East for the 27-year-old?
Hutchison would love Sterling at Newcastle
On the latest episode of BBC’s Football Daily podcast, they discussed the future of Sterling. It was questioned why Newcastle aren’t in the mix. The host, Aaron Paul (not the one from Breaking Bad), even pondered that City would prefer to sell him to Newcastle as he’s not a direct rival.
Hutchison, a former Sunderland player and Toon fan, weighed in.
“If you ask any Newcastle fan, I am one, if we ended up signing Raheem Sterling, that would be lift off for Newcastle fans,” he said.
“That would be ‘right, we’ve got one of the world’s best, we can build from there’. Maybe it’s just out of Newcastle’s reach. Maybe they’ve put the feelers out. That’s what happens as managers, if you’re Eddie Howe or an agent, you’d put the feeler out to Raheem Sterling.
“You’d say to them ‘do you fancy it?’ and he’s probably said, if they have put the feelers out ‘the timing’s not quite right’.”
Raheem Sterling to Newcastle? Yes please!
Hutchison is right. It truly would be ‘lift off’ if Sterling swapped Manchester City for Newcastle United.
Deals for Kieran Trippier and Bruno Guimaraes really turned heads, but this would be a level above. That’s how good Sterling is.
However, he’s not coming to St James’ Park.
It is strange that we haven’t been linked – but only in the sense that we seem to be linked with anyone and everyone this summer.
But signing Sterling just wouldn’t make sense. The finances would be astronomical. He would smash the wage structure at the club, which is not what the owners are trying to do.
Progression will be steady, so signing a player who currently earns £300,000-a-week is unfeasible.
On top of that, he probably doesn’t want to join Newcastle either. A move to Chelsea makes so much more sense, where he can continue challenging for honours. He’s already won four Premier League titles in his career, and he’s at an age where he’ll want to add to that tally.
The Magpies will eventually want to sign players of Sterling’s calibre, but they’re not there yet. In fact, they’re nowhere near.
But considering where we were before the takeover, that’s alright.
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