Arsenal: Take Raheem Sterling and run

If Raheem Sterling is included in an Alexis Sánchez deal, Arsenal should bite Manchester City’s hand off.

Earlier today, there were reports that Manchester City had made a sensational Raheem Sterling plus cash offer for Arsenal contract rebel Alexis Sánchez.

It’s now understood that Manchester City will make an offer for Alexis Sánchez before the transfer deadline but that it is the Gunners, and not Pep Guardiola, who are proposing a possible swap deal.

Arsene Wenger’s interest in Sterling can be traced back to 2012 when Wenger kept tabs on the England international at Queens Park Rangers prior to his move to Liverpool. There were also reports that Wenger wanted to sign him when he fell out of favour at the Merseyside club, just before he moved to Manchester, though nothing ever came to fruition.

So, given the rather substantial rumours surfacing, it is natural to ask whether pursuing such a swap deal would be a wise move or not. The main reasons why I feel that Arsenal should accept an offer for Sterling, should one come about, are perfectly explained by Gunnerblog, a.k.a. James McNicholas;

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"Alexis is 28, Sterling is 22. Given that we have no chance of winning the league this year, might be worth rebuilding around younger stars. — gunnerblog (@gunnerblog) August 29, 2017"

"Makes perfect sense: club would be able to say ‘we signed Aguero/Sterling’ rather than ‘we sold Alexis’. It’s a get-out. — gunnerblog (@gunnerblog) August 29, 2017"

"I also think it makes sense strategically. Might be our best (only?) chance to get a player of that calibre in next 12 months. — gunnerblog (@gunnerblog) August 29, 2017"

I wouldn’t be opposed to swapping Sánchez and Sterling and giving City some cash either. If Sterling is involved in this deal, it’s a good deal.

Make no mistake about it, Arsenal will begin a rebuilding phase fairly soon. Some might even argue that they are already in the midst of it. Maybe now is indeed the time to start rebuilding around younger stars, diverging away from the likes of Sanchez and embracing the youthful potential and exuberance of players like Sterling.

After all, despite Wenger’s statements, Sánchez is supposedly unhappy and wants to leave. Why not cash in on him while you still have the chance?

Next: Arsenal: 5 storylines to follow ahead of transfer deadline day

Sanchez is a world-beater on his day. But if Arsenal somehow manage to sign Sterling as some form of makeweight, then they would be getting a potential world-beater in return.

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