Arsenal are reportedly eyeing up a summer swoop for Chelsea winger Raheem Sterling as manager Mikel Arteta looks to strengthen his squad.
What’s the latest on Raheem Sterling to Arsenal?
According to 90min, the Spaniard is looking at reuniting with the Englishman – having coached him at Manchester City – as the Gunners look to add players with Champions League experience.
Arteta is said to be a big fan of the winger and could look to make a bid if he becomes available this summer. Meanwhile, due to their extravagant spending in January, the Blues may have to sell some players in the summer.
His contract doesn’t expire until 2027, so he’s unlikely to move for anything less than what Chelsea signed him for – £47.5m.
Could Sterling improve Arsenal?
The north London outfit looked like a front-runner to sign Ukrainian winger Mykhailo Mudryk in January, however, Chelsea emerged out of the blue and snatched the player from under Arteta’s nose, willing to pay the fee demanded by Shakhtar Donetsk, an eye-watering £88.5m.
Full credit goes to Arteta for not wilting in face of Shakhtar’s demands, however, he will be keen to avenge this missed opportunity by luring Sterling to the club.
The wingers in Arsenal’s squad this term have been performing excellently, registering 50 goal contributions between them, with Bukayo Saka the standout with 18 goal contributions and this is an area Arteta has managed to get firing on all cylinders.
With a first foray into the Champions League since 2017 looking extremely likely next term, the 40-year-old will need some added experience, and Sterling fits the bill.
Not only has he won ten major honours with City – including four Premier League titles – bringing a winners mentality to the squad, but his impact on Europe’s elite competition has been impressive.
Across 80 games in the Champions League, the £325k-per-week gem has scored 26 goals and registered 24 assists, while he has registered three goal contributions for Chelsea in Europe this campaign.
CBS Sports journalist Ben Jacobs hailed the winger as “delightful” and despite having a tricky start to life in London, the Englishman is Chelsea’s second-highest league scorer with four goals, while ranking in the top five out of the whole squad for shots on target, key passes and big chances created per game this term.
He hasn’t lived up to the lofty expectations since joining from City, however his vast experience and impressive scoring rate in Europe – a goal every three matches – proves that Arteta must look to sign him this summer.
