Sporting director Edu Gaspar and Arsenal's recruitment team were planning a “shocking” bid to sign the former £100 million player ahead of the 11pm deadline yesterday, according to a report.
Arsenal have signed Raheem Sterling on loan in a final deal
At eleven o'clock on Friday night, and just in time to submit the deal papers before the deadline, Mikel Arteta's Arsenal have agreed to sign Raheem Sterling on loan for the entire 2024/25 season.
There were reports that Arteta held private talks with Sterling about joining Arsenal yesterday, with the Gunners racing to get a deal over the line as Chelsea look to take his £325,000-a-week wages off the books this campaign. at least.
GiveMeSport reporter Ben Jacobs understands that Sterling has agreed to take a pay cut as part of a temporary move to Arsenal, with Arteta's men and Chelsea splitting his wage costs 50/50.
|
Raheem Sterling's stats for Chelsea in all competitions |
|
|---|---|
|
Goals |
19 |
|
It helps |
12 |
|
Yellow cards |
13 |
|
Red cards |
0 |
|
Minutes played |
5,335 |
The 82-capped England midfielder will wear the number 10 shirt, which was vacated by Emile Smith-Rowe after completing a full-time move to Fulham in the summer.
Unfortunately, the transfer came too late for Sterling to make his Premier League debut against Brighton today, as he was not booked in time for the Emirates Stadium clash.
“It's good to be honest, we never planned to sign him when we started the player transfer window, to be transparent. For different reasons,” said Edu when he signed Sterling late.
“But we always say to everyone that you have to prepare for every situation. So when that opportunity came to me, and I looked at the team, I looked at how he was playing, and I talked to Mikel of course.
“I talked to Tim [Lewis]our vice chairman, to check if everyone is comfortable with the step we are going to take, and it is very reasonable. Yes, it makes a lot of sense to have someone like him because I am sure he will add a lot [to] the group.
“He has experience, he understands the league better than anyone, he has played in the Champions League many times. He has also won the Premier League a few times, so I think he can add a lot to our team and I feel very happy to see someone like him in our team.”
Arsenal have also planned a “shock” late bid for Ivan Toney
With Sterling on the line, Football Insider and reporter Wayne Veysey claim Arsenal were also plotting a late swoop for Brentford striker Ivan Toney.
Indeed, before the 28-year-old closed his transfer window to Saudi Pro League side Al-Ahli, Arsenal were believed to be studying the “shock” of a late bid to sign Toney – who was also on Chelsea's radar.
Some reports on deadline day claimed that Arsenal were looking to take chances on a new striker, but perhaps the tense nature of Sterling's last-minute deal means the north Londoners need to use all their might to get him over the line.
It means Arsenal go into the 24/25 season without signing a new number nine, despite being rumored to have done so all summer. However, it shouldn't worry Arteta too much, as the team has real attacking quality in various attacking positions, especially with the late arrest of Sterling.
Toney, who Brentford bought for £100 million in January, is now preparing for a new chapter in the Middle East.
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