Raheem Sterling wants to leave Chelsea before the transfer deadline, and he is more interested in joining Arsenal than Manchester United. Unless he is able to secure a move away, the 29-year-old winger, who has been sidelined by Chelsea’s new head coach Enzo Maresca, may not make the team’s 25-man Premier League roster.
With a big contract with Chelsea that pays roughly £325,000 a week for the next three years, Sterling is in a risky situation. His recent exclusion from Maresca’s plans has raised concerns about what lies ahead for him. Talks have mostly focused on Manchester United, even though other Premier League teams have expressed interest in Jadon Sancho. There have also been rumors of a possible trade involving Manchester United. Sterling, though, would rather be transferred to Arsenal.
According to people with knowledge of the matter, Sterling views a transfer to Arsenal as the “perfect scenario.” In his opinion, Arsenal’s structure and camaraderie would facilitate a smoother transition than Manchester United’s. Plus, he would be able to stay in London if he moved to the Emirates, which would suit his personal tastes. Mikel Arteta, the manager of Arsenal and a former colleague of Sterling at Manchester City, is excited about the prospect of hiring Sterling. However, substantial obstacles still stand in the way, especially in relation to funding arrangements.
The amount that Arsenal is expected to offer is significantly less than Sterling’s current salary—roughly £150,000 per week. According to reports, in order to facilitate the transfer, Chelsea may have to pay a portion of his remaining salary or contribute to his wages. It’s competitive because Manchester United is willing to match Arsenal’s wage offer.
Arsenal is actively looking for additional attacking options in addition to Sterling. Potential trades for Brentford’s Ivan Toney and Bayern Munich’s Kingsley Coman are also part of Arteta’s transfer plans. These actions demonstrate Arsenal’s intention to bolster their roster prior to the transfer window closing in order to improve their attacking capabilities for the upcoming campaign.
While Sterling’s future is still unknown as the transfer deadline draws near, his allegiance to Arsenal may have a big impact on how his transfer saga plays out in the end.
