Arsenal in talks with Chelsea over cut-price Sterling transfer

Arsenal have been offered the chance to sign Raheem Sterling on a cut-price deal, although signing the Chelsea winger could prove to be a complicated matter on deadline day.

The Gunners are still open to signing another forward to provide rest and competition for Bukayo Saka, with Bayern Munich’s Kingsley Coman another player under consideration.

However, both Coman and Sterling earn wages in excess of €300,000-per-week, a figure which Arsenal are reluctant to sanction, particularly with neither player being the club’s first choice.

READ MORE: How Arsenal will line-up with Mikel Merino

Arsenal had been hoping to sign Nico Williams this summer but the Spaniard appears set to stay at Athletic Bilbao this season despite the presence of a €60 million release clause in his contract.

Mikel Arteta would be open for the right alternative to Williams if a deal proved affordable but, according to The Independent, they would not be willing to pay a fee for Sterling due to his wages.

Any transfer for Sterling would also require the 29-year-old to resolve his contract situation at Chelsea, with the Blues reportedly owing the England international more than €70m across the remainder of his contract.

Arteta encouraged by prospect of Sterling reunion

Sterling has been told he has no future under Enzo Maresca at Chelsea despite having three years remaining on his contract at Stamford Bridge, with the winger part of the infamous ‘bomb squad’ that have been exiled from first team training.

Chelsea had been in talks with Manchester United over a potential swap deal for Jadon Sancho but that transfer is unlikely to progress.

Arsenal will likely let their pursuit of a forward go down to the wire, with a belief that better deals will be available closer to Friday’s deadline as selling teams become more desperate.

READ MORE: Premier League summer transfers 2024: All the Done Deals

Coman has been offered to clubs all over Europe by Bayern Munich, while teams in the Saudi Pro League are also interested in the French star, and that deal could prove more appealing to Arsenal than a transfer for Sterling.

However, Arteta is said to be a fan of Sterling, having worked with him during their time together at Manchester City and believes a player of his pedigree and experience could be beneficial to Arsenal’s young squad.