Rumours of Mikel Arteta’s interest in Manchester City cast-offs Raheem Sterling and Riyad Mahrez make absolutely zero sense in reality. Arteta already has an abundance of talent capable of producing on the flanks including Pepe, Saka, Martinelli, Nelson, and Aubameyang, so why would he jeopardise that for two players who could prove to be the next Willian.
Anyway, why would either come to the Emirates without the guarantee of European football, having experienced season after season of top-flight competitive football? In fact, there are so many reasons to not include them in Arteta’s plans including the loss of exciting young talent that is about to emerge and take centre stage.
Sterling and Mahrez 'could leave Man City' after Champions League finalhttps://t.co/cgf1GfVVqE pic.twitter.com/29qxGZY1PH
— Mirror Football (@MirrorFootball) May 29, 2021
If we are talking about the rebuilding process, the potential addition of Mahrez (30) and Sterling (26) is puzzling because Arteta will find himself in the same position as when he had to juggle Willian, Saka, Pepe, and Aubameyang. We should be squeezing out the older players to accommodate the Hale End prospects or buying players of potential that can blend with the nucleus already at the Spaniard’s disposal.
I think and hope that this speculation has no foundation and that, at the end of the transfer window, neither are pictured in the famous red and white of Arsenal. Yes, Arteta needs a blend of youth and experience but showing an interest in two of the City players smacks of desperation and a lack of imagination.
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I think there will be up to four fresh faces through the door and one of those could well be Brighton’s Yves Bissouma. The priority then will be a playmaker which I suspect is either Emi Buendia or Houssem Aouar, then a right-back with choices being Toby Sibbick or Tariq Lamptey, all of which could cost up to £150m with bolt-ons and additional fees but then, Arsenal could clear out their squad and generate £100m minimum.
That would include the exits of Bellerin, Lacazette, Xhaka, Elneny, Nketiah, and Chambers but in truth, the additions would instantly improve Arsenal almost overnight. On the other hand, Sterling and Mahrez wouldn’t be cheap with the former Liverpool man said to be worth £81m, while his wing partner and former Leicester man would pull in £37.8m. If we are looking at value for money, the two City men aren’t it. Let’s hope Arteta thinks the same.
Stay tuned for more Transfer updates about Arsenal.
