Arsenal still keen to bring Raheem Sterling back to London, despite Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola’s hands-off warning
Gunners boss Arsene Wenger had looked to include England winger in a deal involving Alexis Sanchez earlier this summer
ARSENAL are still keen to bring Raheem Sterling back to London, despite Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola's hands-off warning, according to reports.
Gunners boss Arsene Wenger had looked to include England winger, 22, in a deal involving Alexis Sanchez earlier this summer.
Chilean ace Sanchez had looked dead-set on a move away from the Emirates this summer, with Guardiola's City the most likely target.
However, talks fell apart after Wenger appeared to insist on including Sterling in a cash-plus-player deal.
On the attempts, Guardiola claimed: “When we start to speak with Arsenal in the last days because before it was impossible.
“They want to make a swap with Raz. They talk to me and I said no chance. Zero chance.
“Not one percent chance to make a swap with Alexis and Raz.
“I trust a lot with him. He is 22, English he has a lot of gap to improve. The only deal if possible is cash.
“We try to make an offer, they accept, but in the end they could not sign the player they wanted to sign, Alexis stayed in Arsenal.”
However, Guardiola left the door open for a January swoop for Sanchez, saying: “In the end Arsenal would not sell him.
“But I know Alexis well. I worked with him at Barcelona. We will see what happens in the future.”
Should City go back in for Sanchez, it could be Wenger stubbornly insists on including Sterling in the deal once more, with Guardiola's patience set to be tested.