Arsenal have been reportedly linked with a move for Manchester City star Raheem Sterling. The England ace has fallen down the attacking pecking order under Pep Guardiola over the last six months.
The summer arrival of Jack Grealish from Aston Villa has further limited his game time this season. The winger has since admitted that he could look for pastures new if the situation doesn’t change at Manchester City.
According to Football London, the recent admission of Raheem Sterling has given Arsenal plenty of encouragement to make a move for him but they face competition from Barcelona for the wide-man’s signature.
Since joining Manchester City from Liverpool in 2015, Sterling has come a long way, establishing himself as one of the most adventurous forwards on show in the Premier League whilst also proving a key player for England.
The 26-year-old forward has a contract at the Etihad Stadium that runs until June 2023 but his diminished game time this term has seen him put contract talks on hold. This puts the England international’s long-term future in doubt at Manchester City amidst links with Arsenal and Barcelona.
Raheem Sterling to Arsenal—Should they go all out for the Man City star?
Arsenal have recovered well after a horrendous start to the season that saw them lose their first three Premier League games. Mikel Arteta, who was on the brink of losing his job, has done well of late in steadying the ship at the Emirates Stadium.
One area the Gunners must improve going forward is the attack, with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang often lacking support upfront. While the likes of Emile Smith Rowe, Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard have done well, the north Londoners need more goals from their forwards to stop their overdependence on Aubameyang.
Thus, signing a prolific forward to support Aubameyang in January while boosting Arsenal’s attacking unit would be a smart decision by the management, with Alexandre Lacazette out of contract at the end of the season. In that regard, Raheem Sterling would be a perfect fit at the Emirates Stadium.
The last couple of seasons haven’t been great for Sterling but there’s no doubting his quality and the impact he could make at Arsenal. The versatility of the 26-year-old’s gameplay makes him an appealing target for the Gunners, as he can be utilised centrally or out wide by Mikel Arteta, who knows the player well during his time as Pep Guardiola’s assistant at Manchester City.
The England international’s speed, quick feet, dribbling ability, movement and creativity make him a nightmare for opposing defenders. The fact that he is equally comfortable operating anywhere across the front-line makes it all the more difficult for defenders to stop him.
The ex-Liverpool man can deliver dangerous crosses in the box by getting on the byline while never hesitating to move infield to create opportunities for his teammates or shoot on goal.
Sterling would undoubtedly be a brilliant addition to Arsenal, adding an abundance of flair, assists and goals the club so desperately lacks at the moment. A proven Premier League customer with solid experience and a great winning mentality, the English winger could go a long way in helping the Gunners close the gap on top four.
Therefore, Arsenal must break the bank if needed to lure Sterling away from Manchester City in January.