Gary Neville shares frank verdict on Raheem Sterling to Arsenal transfer

Gary Neville has questioned whether Arsenal or Manchester United need to make a move for Chelsea’s Raheem Sterling before the transfer window closes.

The 29-year-old winger has been put up for sale by Chelsea after manager Enzo Maresca decided he was not in his plans for the 2024/25 season. Sterling is among several players who have been made available for transfer, alongside Trevoh Chalobah.

According to Mirror Football, Sterling was offered to Arsenal, and the Gunners are now weighing up a move. The former Manchester City star has also been linked with a move to Man Utd as part of a swap deal with Jadon Sancho.

And Man Utd icon Neville said he would not be surprised if Sterling stays at Stamford Bridge beyond the 11pm deadline. He believes both United and Arsenal already have enough depth in their wing positions.

“I love Raheem Sterling, I worked with him very closely with England while I was there,” Neville said on Sky Sports. “I’m not quite sure at the moment why Manchester United would see that as a piece of business. Just looking at their squad they’ve got players they need to try and get the best out of.

“They’ve got Amad, Garnacho, Antony and Rashford who already play in those areas. If they’re losing faith in one or some of those players but it doesn’t strike me at this moment as being an essential signing for Man United.

“Arsenal have got Jesus, Martinelli and Trossard who can play on that left side. They’ve got Saka on the right side who is so reliable and ever-present.

“It doesn’t strike me as something that makes sense but I can see why Chelsea want him out. The situation the last couple of weeks means I suspect they’re desperate to get him out. Raheem Sterling is not someone who will be bullied by Chelsea, if it’s not right for him then he won’t go. They may end up with him come Monday and they will have to shake hands and get on with it for the next six months at least.

“The Arsenal and Man United links don’t make sense to me. He would strengthen those squads but they’ve already strength in those areas.”

Should Sterling stay at Chelsea after tonight’s deadline, then it appears his route back into Enzo Maresca’s plans looks bleak.

“We’re going to see,” the Italian said earlier this week. “Because I prefer to be honest with the player, with Raheem, I’ve been exactly the same. The ones who are not involved, they are all players who are not going to be involved and they don’t get any minutes in case they stay.

“I don’t know what happens, when the window closes. We will see who is here and who is not here. The only thing I can say is the ones who are going to get minutes are the ones who I think can help us.

“It’s not just Raheem. It’s all the players who in this moment are training apart. In the moment the transfer window closes, they are not going to get minutes. I’ve already been clear with them and honest and this is the only reason why.”