Any truth in the Sterling story? I very much doubt it, as it has all the hallmarks of a non starter but let’s have a look…
Raheem Sterling of Manchester City takes on Stuart Armstrong of Celtic during the UEFA Champions League match between Celtic FC and Manchester City FC at Celtic Park on September 28, 2016. (Photo by Mark Runnacles/Getty Images)
The transfer window hasn’t long closed, but that hasn’t stopped transfer speculation, with some widespread gossip hitting the headlines in the last few days in the mainstream media regarding Celtic pondering a ‘sensational’ January move for Chelsea’s Raheem Sterling.
What started as an exclusive without any real conclusive proof, and more of an opinion piece has grown arms and legs with several outlets then reporting that Brendan Rodgers is keen to work once more with the player he helped nurture into the Liverpool first team nigh on a decade ago.
Raheem Sterling of Manchester City scores his team’s second goal during the UEFA Champions League group C match between Celtic FC and Manchester City FC at Celtic Park on September 28, 2016. (Photo by Mark Runnacles/Getty Images)
Sterling then won a £50 million move to Manchester City and soon became one of the most valuable players in the English Premiership scoring 131 goals in 339 appearances for Pep Guardiola’s all conquering light-blues winning every domestic honour in the process.
The player then moved to Chelsea for a reported £47 million in 2022, but failed to show the form he produced in both Merseyside and Manchester. After falling out of favour at Stamford Bridge Sterling spent last season on loan at Arsenal, but yet again failed to hit the heights he reached in the previous decade.
Raheem Sterling of Manchester City scores his team’s second goal during the UEFA Champions League group C match between Celtic FC and Manchester City FC at Celtic Park on September 28, 2016. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)
Sterling to date has also represented England on 82 occasions scoring 20 goal, and appeared at several World Cups and European championships, so he is undoubtedly a star attraction with genuine quality, but would he even be remotely interested in a move north of the border, even on loan?
More importantly would the Celtic board even think of enticing a player of that stature to Glasgow?
Raheem Sterling of Arsenal reacts during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Crystal Palace FC at Emirates Stadium on April 23, 2025. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
Even a loan move would cost a pretty penny in fees, not to mention funding a percentage of his huge six figure a week salary. Michael Nicholson and co couldn’t even get a move over the line for Kasper Dolberg, so what chance have they got of enticing a renowned player such as Sterling to the club?
It may create spectacular headlines, but it’s undoubtedly a non starter for me and not something that would bother many Celtic supporters if it never happened. It made a nice headline or two though and that was probably what the intention was all along.
Just an Ordinary Bhoy
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We’ve laughed heartily, for over a decade, at a conveyor belt of outlandish squirrel stories sent to the press to deflect from the BS going on at Govan Circus, year in year out. Deservedly so and it’s fuelled many a fun filled read and conversation.
However – if the shoe fits….
The volume of transfer stories this summer was astronomical, the leaks, the links, the new leaks, the back stabbing, the treachery and now this nonsense. Are we now being subject to a barrage of squirrel stories being desperately released like chaff and flares out a certain CEOs backside to fend off the heat seeking missiles of criticism being fired his way. “Don’t look at me, look at THIS STORY”.
Call me sceptical.