by Lewis Ambrose

Arsène Wenger faced the press after Arsenal landed in Asia and has denied that the club was in for Liverpool star Raheem Sterling this summer.

Sterling is expected to move to Manchester City during the window after they reached an agreement with Liverpool, but it had been suggested that Arsenal would challenge City for the player’s signature.

“On the offensive front we have many creative players, midfield as well,” Wenger told the media.

“For me Sterling is a top-class player. It’s a good buy for Man City. An expensive one, but they can afford it. Personally I like him.

“I didn’t make a bid because he plays in an area where we have plenty of players. We have Danny Welbeck, Theo Walcott, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. Alexis Sanchez. Jack Wilshere can play there, Serge Gnabry.”

Aaron Ramsey even played out wide toward the end of the season, and the manager clearly feels no more wide players are need, or certainly not for the reported fee of £49M that Manchester City are going to part with.

Linked

Sterling is from London and a move to Arsenal was rumoured much earlier on in the summer, especially after the England star told the BBC that being linked with Arsenal was flattering.

“We are not in a transfer period, we are in front of a big game,” said Wenger back in April.

“I respect Liverpool and I do not want to go into any supposed move for any of their players.”

Acting so coy on the deal suggests there may have been something in the rumours, but it is clear that Arsenal were never going to be willing to pay as much as Manchester City.