Arsenal have been linked with a late move for Chelsea winger Raheem Sterling on transfer deadline day.
Arsenal want to add an attacker to their squad, with a winger ideally desired for speed and depth, and Sterling would tick a lot of boxes for Mikel Arteta.
However, a reunion between the Spaniard and Sterling, who worked together at Manchester City, is complicated by his situation at Chelsea.
Sterling has been exiled from the main squad, and has been encouraged to find a transfer. However, he is on a wage of around £325k-per-week, which no suitor is prepared to pay, but Chelsea want to cut it from their wage bill.
Chelsea are so desperate to find a move for Sterling, that they are seemingly happy to help Arsenal sign him.
Chelsea willing to sanction favourable loan deal for Arsenal to sign Raheem Sterling
ESPN reporter Mark Ogden has now claimed that Chelsea are willing to subsidise a significant chunk of Sterling’s wages to allow him to join Arsenal on loan.
“I’ve been told that Chelsea are prepared to subsidise up to half of Raheem Sterling’s contract to get him a move,” he stated.
“Arsenal have been offered Sterling, Juventus, teams in Saudi Arabia — he doesn’t want to go to Saudi Arabia, he wants to stay in the Premier League.”
Arsenal could secure Raheem Sterling for bargain price
If Chelsea are willing to subsidise half of Sterling’s wages on a loan deal, Arsenal could, in theory, sign him on a free loan, and pay just £162k of his weekly salary.
It remains to be seen whether Chelsea would also want a loan fee to sanction the move, but given their need to create more wage room in their squad, the ball is in Arsenal’s court.
Sterling could offer a lot to Arsenal’s squad, and if he can be secured for a bargain price, he would be a strong addition for Arteta.
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