Why Arsenal should stun everyone by completing a cut-price deal for £44m Man City star in January

Why Arsenal must sign Raheem Sterling in January in a cut-price deal

Premier League champions Manchester City and Raheem Sterling have hit a wall in the negotiations for a contract renewal, as per the Guardian.

Sterling joined City from Liverpool in the summer of 2015 for £44m on a five-year contract. He has entered the final year of that deal and the Premier League champions could lose him on the cheap in January or for free next summer if they fail to agree on terms to a new deal.

The 23-year-old has continued his blistering form from last season, having already notched up three goals in four league appearances for the Cityzens. While Sterling has just a year left on his contract at the Etihad, should Arsenal test City’s resolve with a bid in January?

Unai Emery has a plethora of attacking players in his Arsenal squad but he lacks a genuine winger, an out-and-out pacy wide-man who can give full-backs some endless nightmares. Sterling would certainly fit the criteria and Emery should make a January swoop for the City star.

Sterling’s performances at the World Cup 2018 were sub-par as he failed to set the globe alight during the Three Lions’ run to the semi-final. However, he enjoyed his best season for City in the 2017/18 campaign by scoring 23 goals in all competitions and winning his first Premier League title. His remarkable form has seen him get linked with a move to Real Madrid.

Ever since Pep Guardiola arrived at the Etihad, Sterling seems to have found his old self again. The England international has been a delightful player to watch in City colours as Guardiola has clearly installed positive mentality into the player.

Guardiola’s tactical switch shifting the player from the left wing to the right has worked wonders for Sterling and the forward has used his explosive pace to run directly at defenders.

Arsenal are yet to replace Alexis Sanchez and the winter transfer window could be the ideal time for them to fix the situation. While Sterling and Sanchez are two different players, the England international would be a great option for Emery to have in the squad. The Gunners under Emery play a possession-based, pacy brand of football which would fit Sterling perfectly.

Sterling is just 23 and would fit into Arsenal’s team and could potentially form a potent attack alongside Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Alexandre Lacazette – a frontline that could wreak havoc against any opposition.

The England international’s end product may be frustrating at times but he would inject real pace into Arsenal’s final third and make Emery’s side a terrifying outfit to play against.

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Even though the Gunners already boast of a plethora of world-class players in their roster, Sterling could prove to be a smart acquisition considering the fact that he could make a real impact at the Emirates.

Hence, Emery must definitely have a look at the City star in January to further push their chances of success this season.