Arsenal have agreed a sensational swap deal with Liverpool involving Raheem Sterling and Theo Walcott, with both stars refusing to extend their respective contracts, according to The Guardian’s Barry Glendenning who broke the news on the Football Weekly podcast.
The Sterling saga took another turn for the worse this week, when the winger’s agent claimed that he wouldn’t sign another contract this summer even if Liverpool offered close to £1million a week.
“He is definitely not signing. He’s not signing for £700, £800, £900 thousand a week. He is not signing,” Aidy Ward told The Evening Standard.
It seems as though Sterling’s future at Anfield is untenable, and given that Ward is the 20-year-old’s ‘representative’, he’s only representing his client’s thoughts and feelings.
At our club, we face a similar situation – although without the brash agent – with Walcott, whose case is much more immediate than Sterling’s.
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Walcott’s deal expires in 2016 (via the Mirror) and according to The Guardian’s deputy editor, a swap-deal involving the two speedsters has already been agreed.
“The inside track a few weeks ago, which came from a very, very good source – a relative of Raheem Sterling – is that he will be going to Arsenal and Theo Walcott will be going the other way,” Glendenning revealed at the 22:40 mark of the podcast.
Beyond the war of words and avoidable publicity surrounding the future of Sterling, a swap with Walcott would make sense for all parties given that both players would be offered what they seemingly want.
Sterling stated in his controversial BBC Sport interview that trophies were his aim, while the hold-up on Walcott’s deal is thought to be a financial one (via the Metro).
We can certainly offer the Liverpool star a better shot at the top trophies, as well as regular Champions League football. Walcott meanwhile, is more likely to get the financial package he wants from a desperate Liverpool, who could potentially be pressured into making a marquee signing.
Looking ahead, Sterling could become a sensational forward and an eventual upgrade on Walcott.
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