Mikel Arteta given green light to sign forward he’s always wanted at Arsenal, he’s been told to go

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Mikel Arteta has just been handed a second chance to sign one player he has admired for some time. 

Arsenal have not done a great deal of transfer business so far this summer. Riccardo Calafiori has been the only new face added to the first team squad so far, whilst David Raya’s loan switch has been converted into a permanent move. 

However, Mikel Merino is close to joining Arsenal, and Mikel Arteta won’t want to stop with the addition of the Real Sociedad midfielder.

The Gunners are clearly in the market for attacking reinforcements. Arsenal tried to sign Benjamin Sesko, and have also been linked with the likes of Nico Williams, Viktor Gyokeres, and Ivan Toney, amongst many others. 

Now, though, a transfer target from last summer could reemerge on the North London club’s horizon, as Raheem Sterling looks to have once again been made available. 

• READ MORE: Every player linked to and from Arsenal in the summer 2024 transfer window

Arsenal get second chance to land Raheem Sterling

Arteta was keen to sign Sterling last summer, as reported by 90Min. The Spanish coach knows the Chelsea forward well from the time that they shared on the Manchester City payroll together. 

Sterling’s track record is beyond question. The 29-year-old has over 100 Premier League goals to his name, and in his time at the Etihad Stadium he won four league titles, amongst numerous other honours.

However, in his two full seasons at Stamford Bridge so far, he has struggled to impress on any kind of consistent basis, and was left out of the Blues’ matchday squad altogether for their Premier League opener against the Cityzens this weekend.

Speaking on The Rest is Football podcast, Alan Shearer has now revealed: “I’m told that he’s trained all pre-season and was told, on Friday, that he’s probably best off looking elsewhere for a club, because they’re probably bringing other people in what will be in his position. 

“As hard as that is – and it will be, absolutely, because as far as I can remember he hasn’t been unprofessional at all at Chelsea – so, when you’ve worked that hard, when you’ve been at that football club and you’ve played a part… I think that would be pretty frustrating.”

This could be all the invitation Arteta needs to launch another attempt to sign Sterling.

Should Arsenal swoop for Sterling?

Arteta may well be a fan of the 82-cap England international, and the Gunners could certainly do with cover in the wide areas. Sterling would be able to compete for game time with both Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli.

However, there is certainly a sense that Sterling is past his best, and it is hard to see how Arsenal would be well served in their quest to usurp Manchester City by signing a player that the reigning champions deemed surplus to requirements.