Arsenal have completed a late transfer swoop on deadline day, signing veteran English winger Raheem Sterling on loan from Chelsea.
Sterling joined Arsenal in the last minutes of the transfer window after falling off the pecking order at Chelsea. The 29-year-old has now played for the top four clubs in the English top flight, comprising Manchester City, Liverpool, Chelsea, and now Arsenal.
Raheem Sterling’s sudden Chelsea misfortunes
Sterling’s future at Chelsea was in the balance after Enzo Maresca emerged as the club’s new manager. He was a crucial cog in the Blues’ pre-season matches under the watch of Maresca but was dropped from the club’s Premier League opening matchday fixture against Manchester City.
And that was the beginning of his feud with the Italian tactician. He questioned Maresca’s decision to drop him from the squad and met a harsh response from the former Leicester City boss.
From the foregoing, it was evident Sterling’s future lay away from Stamford Bridge. Having fallen down the pecking order in Maresca’s attacking rooster, Chelsea opted to part ways with the player.
Moreover, his departure wasn’t just a necessity to maintain the integrity of the squad under Maresca but financially expedient to settle the wage books. Sterling was the club’s highest-paid player with £350,000 as a weekly wage.
Arsenal’s shock late swoop for Sterling
Arsenal’s manager Mikel Arteta refused to comment on the state of things with Sterling when he was prised on rumours linking the club to the player. Speaking ahead of Arsenal’s Premier League matchday three clash against Brighton, Arteta left his audience in the dark about the club’s late interest in Sterling.
“We don’t talk about players contracted to other clubs,” he said.
However, Fabrizio Romano and other close sources had confirmed the club were working in the background to get Raheem Sterling’s deal done.
Chelsea reportedly offered the player to the London club in their desperate attempt to offload him before the transfer window closes. He was previously offered to Manchester United as part of a swap deal for Jadon Sancho.
Manchester United were reportedly open to the swap offer but weren’t pursuing the player as a priority transfer target. Chelsea later settled for a deal for Sancho in a separate deal and offered Sterling to Arsenal.
Details of Raheem Sterling to Arsenal move
According to Fabrizio Romano, Arsenal are signing Raheem Sterling on loan till the end of the season. Based on the current terms of the agreement, Sterling will be expected back at Chelsea after the expiration of the loan. No buy option has been attached.
While other parts of the transfer have been made clear, it is yet to be determined how the two clubs will share Raheem Sterling’s £350,000 weekly wage burden. Chelsea are likely to foot a larger proportion of the wage while Arsenal cover the rest till the end of the campaign.
How will Raheem Sterling fit in at Arsenal?
There have been questions whether Raheem Sterling is a much-needed attacking option in Arsenal’s current setup under Mikel Arteta. Sterling is known for his versatility. He can play as a right-winger or left-winger, including centre-forward roles.
There are suggestions he is likely to be used mainly as a second option behind Bukayo Saka on the right, Gabriel Martinelli on the left or Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus in the center-attacking role.
Also, Arsenal are likely to benefit from his immense experience, having won several league titles in the English top flight in his 379 matches.
