Raheem Sterling previously admitted he had dreamed of playing for Arsenal, something that could potentially go against him during transfer talks with Tottenham Hotspur. The winger is now a free agent after leaving Chelsea earlier this week.
It means that he is able to sign for a new club, even outside of the January transfer window. Latest reports claim that his representatives have already held talks with up to seven clubs over a potential move.
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It’s reported by the Sun that one of those clubs is Tottenham. Spurs could have an advantage due to their location, with Sterling previously favouring a stay in London.
It is, however, now claimed that the 31-year-old is willing to move further afield in an attempt to relaunch his career. Napoli are one of the other clubs who are said to be showing an interest.
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Sterling started his career in QPR’s youth teams before moving to Liverpool as a youngster. He has since played for Man City and Chelsea.
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Last season, he spent the campaign on loan with Arsenal. Speaking about the decision to sign the former England international, the Gunners’ boss Mikel Arteta revealed how a phone call with the player convinced him and the club to pursue their interest.
"The first call I had with him I knew in the first 10 seconds we had to bring him here because he really wanted it," Arteta said.
"That was my only question mark: 'What stage is he at in his career?' After 10 seconds I knew already before the next questions that we needed him here. His first words were: 'I was dreaming about this call.' That's it. That tells you that he really wants it and was already thinking about the possibility and he could see himself here, delivering and enjoying his profession.
"When that happened, the rest I knew about him, so that blew all the question marks away.”"
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Sterling's 'dream' to play for Arsenal is not likely to go down well with Tottenham. The loan deal with Spurs' north London rivals saw him play a total of 28 times in all competitions, scoring once and providing five assists.
Two of those appearances came in the Premier League clashes against Spurs, with his Arsenal debut coming as a late substitute in Arsenal’s 1-0 win at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in September 2024.