According to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, Arsenal are discussing the possibility of signing Raheem Sterling as Chelsea are ready to offload the attacker.
Manager Enzo Maresca has made it clear that the 29-year-old is not in his plans. Hence, the English international must access options before the deadline day or stay away from the squad for the entire season.
He is currently training away from the senior team along with Ben Chilwell and Trevoh Chalobah. Premier League rivals Manchester United and Arsenal have shown interest in signing the winger, and anything could happen in the next 24 hours.
The Red Devils were discussing a swap deal involving Jadon Sancho, but they have yet to table an offer. Meanwhile, the Gooners are having a conversation regarding whether they should go after the former Manchester City ace.
🚨🔴⚪️ Arsenal are discussing internally about Raheem Sterling as the opportunity has been offered again this morning.
Chelsea want to find a solution for Raheem as he won’t be included in squad again if he stays, Enzo Maresca said.
Sterling, assessing options to decide soon. pic.twitter.com/YbhNMbyugJ
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 30, 2024
The North London side has no intention to pay a transfer fee. Sterling is on £325,000 per week in wages with three years left to serve. This is a complicated deal, but Mikel Arteta’s side knows that they have the upper hand in this deal.
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Chelsea won’t get any advantage by keeping the player sidelined for the entire season. Hence, letting him leave either for the cheapest price or on loan makes perfect sense.
As per the Express, they owe the star up to £70 million in wages and unpaid bonuses.
Will Raheem Sterling improve Arsenal’s attacking firepower?
The Blues star shined under Arteta when he was the former assistant coach at City. The Spaniard brought the best out of the winger, as he won two Premier League titles before moving to Stamford Bridge in 2022.
Sterling didn’t make the full use of his potential at the West London club. Although he was a regular presence in the starting XI, he scored just 14 goals in two PL seasons.
Chelsea might have expected the English star to produce those numbers in a single season. The Gunners can help the senior player find his original form under the guidance of Arteta.
The winger is a versatile player and can contribute via both flanks. Not much of an improvement on the left side of the attack, but surely a decent competition for Bukayo Saka on the right. An experienced rotational alternative, to say the least.
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Enzo and the club can’t just throw the player under the bus. He was a faithful servant when available, and it is disrespectful to shove him out completely.
It remains to be seen whether the Gunners give him a chance to breathe again in the final hours of the transfer window.
