Raheem Sterling given urgent warning as Man Utd transfer could slip through the cracks

Premier League icon Tony Cottee has warned Raheem Sterling against dithering at Chelsea amid talk of a deadline day transfer. Sterling’s situation at Stamford Bridge appears bleak, with reports suggesting Manchester United or Arsenal could be interested in a late swoop on his services.

The England winger hasn’t featured in any of Chelsea’s first three squads this season, with Enzo Maresca seemingly content to move on from the veteran. However, finding a buyer for the player at this late stage could prove problematic, with his £325,000-a-week wages a major stumbling block for most clubs.

Chelsea have signed forwards Joao Felix and Pedro Neto this summer, while Noni Madueke is coming off his best career performance with a hat-trick in the recent 6-2 win over Wolves. And Cottee believes Sterling would be better served escaping that competition, with another London destination potentially looking prosperous.

“I think Arsenal would be a good move for him, without a doubt,” he told Express Sport, in partnership with Altenar. “Whether Arsenal want him or need him is a different question. I think from Raheem’s point of view, he needs to play football. He’s 29 now, technically you should be playing your best football at that age.

“He’s still got his pace, he’s got all his experience. He’s been playing from a very young age [and] he’s played for some fantastic clubs. But the bottom line is it’s OK earning £325,000 a week…people often think footballers play for the money; they don’t play for the money, they play for their own personal pride, their team, and they wanna be a part of something and wanna win things.”

Arsenal have made it their mission to rejuvenate the squad under manager Mikel Arteta and director Edu, rarely recruiting players over the age of 25 in recent years. However, the Gunners have shirked that pattern already this summer after tying up a deal for 28-year-old Mikel Merino.

Cottee, 59, went on to say Sterling should be targeting a place in England’s 2026 World Cup squad despite his recent demotion at Stamford Bridge. However, he stressed the importance of regular playing time in that pursuit, with the player at risk of sitting out for months on the sidelines if he remains with the Blues.

“Now, you’re not gonna do that if you stay at Chelsea and you’re training with the other 20 players who ain’t got a position in the squad at the moment,” he added. “That’s not going to help. You don’t want to go somewhere where you’re not going to be a regular, so he needs to go somewhere where he’s going to play.

“The wages are going to be a problem, we know that. But I would’ve thought Chelsea will contribute, and whoever buys or takes him on loan will pay £100,000 or £150,000 a week of his wages. He just needs to play football.”

It could work in United’s favour that Chelsea appear to be keen on Jadon Sancho, who was cast out by manager Erik ten Hag last season. The winger appears to have been brought back into the fold this term, but it may be preferable to cut their losses and part ways.

The Premier League powerhouses have a little more than 24 hours remaining to cut a deal before the transfer window slams shut on Friday evening. And it’s Cottee’s belief Sterling would do his career an injustice if he found himself stuck at Chelsea after the deadline passes.