Chelsea winger Raheem Sterling has been surprisingly linked to Arsenal since manager Enzo Maresca revealed his plans for the star player.
The 29-year-old is deemed surplus to requirements and is training alone. His squad number has also been moved on, and he must now find a new club before the transfer window shuts.
It is a sorry ending for such a talented attacker like him. Although the Blues’ ace provided goals when needed, it was not enough for him to secure his place in the squad.
The rift with the manager means that his future has spiralled down to a point of no return.
🔵🏴 Chelsea believe Raheem Sterling will 100% leave as he’s started exploring all options.
Maresca: “I spoke with Raheem one-on-one the day before City. I have nothing new to tell him… as I was quite clear”.
“If he wants a chat again I’ll tell him what I already told him”. pic.twitter.com/ey3GZlhWdo
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 21, 2024
RAHEEM STERLING SHARES A SPECIAL BOND WITH MIKEL ARTETA
Meanwhile, the Gooners are on the hunt for a new right-winger who can provide competition to Bukayo Saka. It is reasonable to see why the North London side was connected with a move for Sterling.
The Englishman has previously worked with Mikel Arteta at Manchester City. The Spanish manager also prefers to sign the players that he once coached with the Citizens.
He signed Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko to provide more depth and experience to his newly assembled team. Sterling was a brilliant player during his time at the Etihad. Under the guidance of Pep Guardiola and Arteta, he lifted several trophies and contributed 131 goals plus 73 assists in 339 appearances.
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Arteta knows the player well, and it is said that he might be ready to help the Chelsea player end his poor spell at Stamford Bridge this summer. The senior attacker holds the Arsenal boss in high regard and only has good words for the 42-year-old.
While speaking to GOAL, he said:
“He’s a person that had a lot of say here. The manager trusted him here and he had a lot of influence on the players here and the team as well. You can see the change that he’s brought in there, you can see the energy, you can see how much he’s put into them with their off-ball work.”
WILL STERLING BE A LAIBILITY OR AN ASSET FOR ARSENAL?
Sterling is quick and versatile in attack. Can play on both sides of the field and provides squad depth. He has the experience of lifting trophies and playing in big games.
Will certainly bring a lot to the table. Reiss Nelson is the only experienced player to compete with Saka, and the club would need to use Gabriel Jesus in that position if things don’t work out.
But the Blues’ star is still on a long-term contract and earns £325k per week. This is more than what Arsenal pays for some of their top stars. Plus, we expect their English rivals to demand at least £30 million for their prized asset.
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We believe that signing him will not break Arteta’s golden rule of bringing in raw, hungry players at the Emirates. Pundit Emmanuel Petit also shared a similar view, and he believes that the Chelsea ace is past his prime.
In his opinion, the Gunners must avoid a deal here as the former City star is extremely inconsistent. While talking to TEAMTalk, he said:
“Nope, Arsenal won’t sign Sterling. Since Sterling left Liverpool, he hasn’t improved a whole lot at Manchester City and Chelsea. Sterling can have big moments but there is no consistency in his performances. He still needs to improve his final ball and needs to score more, this is the main problem.”
We do agree with the fact that Arteta might get a much better younger player in the market. Someone like Simon Adingra or Johann Bakayoko might fit in well.
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It is just about that one player who can bridge the gap between Arsenal and Man City. If the Gooners get that player, they can win some pots and pans in this campaign.
