Report: Manager has told his bosses not to sell ‘spectacular’ player Arsenal want

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Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola does not want to sell Arsenal target Raheem Sterling, according to 90min.

Arsenal interest

Arsenal have been linked with a move for former Liverpool star Sterling.

The Daily Star reported this month that Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta wants to sign the 26-year-old – who cost City £44 million in transfer fees when they signed him from Liverpool in 2015, according to BBC Sport.

Peo Guardiola’s reported stance

90min are now reporting that City manager Guardiola does not want to lose Sterling in the middle of the season.

Guardiola has told his City bosses not to sell the England international, who can operate as an attacking midfielder or as a winger.

However, the defending Premier League champions will not stand in the way of Sterling – described as “spectacular” and “world class” by Liverpool right-back and England international teammate Trent Alexander-Arnold in The Guardian in September 2021 – if he wants to leave.

In public, though, Guardiola has said that Sterling is free to leave City if he wants to, as quoted in The Guardian.

Arsenal transfer possible?

Sterling spoke this week of his desire to leave City if he does not get enough playing time.

That certainly opens the door for Arsenal.

However, we do not think that City will sell the 26-year-old in the middle of the season.

Yes, Sterling is not getting much playing time at the moment, but City manager Guardiola knows how good he is.

Guardiola will surely want to keep all the players in the squad until the end of the season.