Arsenal left it pretty late on transfer deadline day.
Fans had to wait right until the death, but Arsenal secured the loan signing of Raheem Sterling in a huge signing for the club.
Arsenal had been looking for a right-sided forward all summer long, with several players linked, including one netting a hat-trick on Saturday to the delight of Lamine Yamal.
But nothing materialised, before Sterling was told he had no future at Chelsea after their opening game defeat to Manchester City.
That threw open many doors and questioned where Sterling would go next, including talk of Saudi Arabia, before he reunited with Arteta at Arsenal.
But it could have been very different for the club had they managed to lure one of their summer transfer targets towards them.
Sources told HITC earlier in the summer that Arsenal were keen on Barcelona’s £50m-rated star Raphinha, who has Premier League experience before when he was at Leeds United.
Naturally, the 27-year-old plays on the right, and just like Sterling, he can play across the front three, just like he did on Saturday.
Barcelona rolled back the years and tore apart Valladolid on their home patch by scoring seven, with Raphinha netting a hat-trick and making sure his team maintained a 100% start to the new La Liga season.
Lamine Yamal starred for Spain at Euro 2024 and he was impressed by what Raphinha produced by calling him ‘Player of the Month’ in the comments section of the Brazil star’s Instagram.
Raphinha has three goals and three assists from four games, with Barca sitting top of the table.
Raphinha scores hat-trick after Arsenal transfer links
Raheem Sterling has a point to prove
Sterling’s performances at Chelsea were in the middle, but given the bar he set at Manchester City and the emotional mess the London club found themselves in, then the noise and negativity is heard louder.
Arsenal fans should be cheering on this move because it adds much-needed depth to the forward line and they have a multiple title-winner on board.
READ MORE: Mikel Arteta ‘amazed’ by Declan Rice sending off during Arsenal’s draw against Brighton
You don’t expect Sterling to start straightaway, in fact, he has a fight on his hands to play on either flank, with Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli ahead of him so far, and Bukayo Saka is the main man on the right.
But this is the extra depth and Saka replacement fans have always wanted.
The post £50m star Arsenal wanted before Sterling nets a hat-trick, Lamine Yamal calls him 'Player of the Month' appeared first on HITC.
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