Arsenal are interested in signing Raheem Sterling but trail rivals Tottenham Hotspur in any pursuit, so who are five alternatives to the Manchester City star Mikel Arteta could target?
Sterling has fallen on the shopping lists at both north London clubs for the summer sales as he will enter the final year of his Citizens contract on June 30. The winger last extended his deal with the Etihad Stadium side in 2018, and may now leave the Premier League leaders.
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Manchester City are loath to let players run down their contracts and leave for free, so will likely make Sterling available without fresh terms. And The Telegraph note Arsenal will put great consideration into a transfer if the 27-year-old is available to improve Arteta’s ranks.
Arsenal interested in Sterling transfer but trail Tottenham for Man City star
Arteta worked closely with Sterling while Pep Guardiola’s assistant at Manchester City. The pair could now reunite at Arsenal, with Arteta willing to make Sterling the focal point of his attack. The Gunners are also set to back the Spaniard in the summer to sign new forwards.
Arsenal have drawn up a shortlist of possible targets in recent months as they prepared for a rebuild in attack. Recruitment chiefs have mentioned Sterling, as the England star put all discussions on a new contract with Manchester City on hold to focus on their title defence.
However, CBS reporter Ben Jacobs claims Tottenham’s interest would lead Arsenal’s in any efforts to sign Sterling from Manchester City. The 74-cap international is ready to overlook his past with Arteta, as Sterling is very intent on working under Antonio Conte if he moves.
Tottenham have also given Sterling assurances on his position and their style that eclipses Arsenal’s interest. Conte wants to get the winger back to scoring goals, whereas Arteta will prefer him in a fluid role in the Gunners frontline with Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli.
Arsenal, then, may need to seek alternative targets to Sterling, given Tottenham’s interest in the Manchester City star’s transfer. So, with that in mind, here are five names for Arteta to consider as he seeks a new focal point to replace out-of-contract Alexandre Lacazette…
Rashford could be a Sterling alternative for Arsenal amid rival Tottenham interest
Arsenal and Tottenham are interested in signing Sterling as the Manchester City star offers a goal threat from across the frontline. The England international is comfortable playing on both wings and through the centre, while having the benefit of being a homegrown player.
Therefore, Marcus Rashford can be a Sterling alternative for Arteta given Arsenal’s interest in the Manchester United product. The Mirror noted in March that the Gunners are ready to offer him a fresh start away from Old Trafford given his rapid fall in their pecking order.
Rashford has seldom featured during Ralf Rangnick’s interim spell and only has a year, plus a further 12-month option, left on his contract. Arteta, then, may admire the 46-cap star’s ability to play across the attack and can offer a goal threat, once his confidence is restored.
Rashford does not seem against leaving the Red Devils, too. The Guardian also reported in March the 24-year-old is considering his future having grown unhappy with his game time. He must now decide if the situation will improve once Erik Ten Hag takes over next season.
Arteta can derail Conte’s summer plans by turning attentions to Danjuma
Arteta could take revenge on Conte beating the Spaniard to Sterling by seeing that Arsenal sign Arnaut Danjuma from Villarreal against interest from Tottenham. According to 90min, Spurs scouted the Dutchman against Liverpool in the semi-finals of the Champions League.
Conte’s side sent talent spotters to both legs of the meeting, while the Daily Mail also note Newcastle are scouting the 25-year-old. Danjuma has flourished in Spain since leaving in a £21m deal with Bournemouth last year, and is already Villarreal’s record UCL goalscorer.
His 16 goals and four assists in 34 Villarreal appearances from central and wide-left outings could now return to England. The Athletic have previously reported while citing Liverpool’s interest in Danjuma that he has a €75m (£64m) release clause that can be paid at any time.
Danjuma would not give Arteta the homegrown status a move for Sterling or Rashford can. But the six-cap Netherlands star has shown he can run rings around Premier League teams, having left Michael Owen in awe on BT Sport with his performance at Manchester United.
“He was absolutely exceptional [at Old Trafford in November],” Owen said. “He plays on that left side and he’s very direct, he can beat players, he can score goals and he comes in and he’s an attacking player, and he gave that Manchester United defence a real scare.”
Arteta can find new forward in Arsenal fan who idolised Henry in Gakpo
Arteta can find another alternative target to Sterling if Arsenal’s interest falls short in PSV Eindhoven talent Cody Gakpo. The Sun report the Gunners have scouted the 23-year-old this season, with PSV open to selling their academy product this summer for bids of £42m.
Additionally, Algemeen Dagblad claim Arsenal are ready to pay a ‘substantial’ amount to sign Gakpo from PSV. The Emirates Stadium natives informed his agent of their stance, as the Gunners’ interest is concrete following a 21 goal, 15 assist season so far in 45 games.
Gakpo also dreams of one day playing in the Premier League where his idol, Thierry Henry, enjoyed success with Arsenal. Easy to see why, then, the four-cap Dutch dynamo plays in a similar style to the Gunners icon, by cutting onto his favoured right-foot off the left-wing.
“Everybody wants to play one time in the Prem,” Gakpo told The Sun. “I don’t favour one team, but I like Arsenal a lot. I looked up to Henry when I was younger because he was a tall guy who played on the wing.”
Arsenal could shop in Premier League with Newcastle raid for Saint-Maximin
Should Arteta prefer to strengthen his strike force from within the Premier League, Arsenal could look to raid Newcastle for Allan Saint-Maximin this summer. Dean Jones has claimed the Frenchman and Magpies are currently in a standoff regarding a potential new contract.
Saint-Maximin knows he is the talisman at St James’ Park and wants to earn a pay rise that reflects his standing. However, Toon chiefs are not planning to match his demands, as they see his importance regressing with further transfers following their Saud-backed takeover.
Additionally, the Daily Mail note Newcastle are ready to sell Saint-Maximin for £50m, with Aston Villa interested. 90min also cite interest from Everton and Wolves, and add that the 25-year-old’s agent is seeking alternative landing spots with his Magpies future uncertain.
Saint-Maximin could offer Arteta a superb ball carrier at Arsenal, capable of playing off the wing or centrally. Kieran Trippier particularly praises the former France U21 international for his ‘magic’ footwork, as Saint-Maximin can ‘just make anything happen’ in possession.
Arteta could find bargain addition lauded by Figo with move for Guedes
Arteta may find a bargain addition to strengthen his Arsenal attack this summer by raiding Valencia for Goncalo Guedes. The Portuguese will enter the final year of his contract at the Mestalla in June, but has produced a tremendous campaign under Jose Bordalas this term.
Guedes – who cost Los Murcielagos £36m in 2018 – has offered 13 goals and six assists in 39 games to date. His appearances across La Liga and the Copa del Rey have been shared with outings on both flanks, at striker and in a supporting central forward position, as well.
Valencia risk losing Guedes on the cheap, though, with his contract entering the final year in June. He has never signed fresh terms since joining from Paris Saint-Germain following an initial loan spell. During which, the Portuguese earned praise from compatriot Luis Figo.
“Guedes is a fast, irreverent and unpredictable player, who builds plays for his teammates and is equally capable of completing them well himself,” Figo told Foot Mercato. “He has all the qualities to be one of the 23 chosen by Fernando Santos for the [2018] World Cup.”
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