Arsenal Transfer News: Raheem Sterling Warning Sounded, Paulo Dybala Rumours

Former Arsenal manager George Graham has warned against the Gunners signing Liverpool's Raheem Sterling in the summer.

Rumours have abounded of late concerning the 20-year-old Englishman potentially departing Anfield in the summer after failing to agree to a new contract, and Arsenal have been strongly linked with the forward, per Jamie Carragher in a Kicca Q&A (via Anthony Chapman of the Daily Express). 

However, Graham—who won two league titles and an FA Cup when in charge at Highbury between 1986 and 1995—told the Alan Brazil Sports Breakfast show he does not believe Sterling is the type of player manager Arsene Wenger needs to buy in the summer (via Alex Varney of talkSPORT):

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I don’t think Arsenal need somebody like Sterling. They need arguably another goalkeeper. They need another centre-half, because although [Per] Mertesacker has been a good signing, he is slipping away at the top level. And even though [Francis] Coquelin is doing a good job in the middle of the park, and there is no reason why he can't improve again next season, I still think they need a big marquee signing to sit in the middle of that midfield to let the other players go on and play.

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Graham is likely not alone in thinking Arsenal are well set in the forward areas, and Sterling's reported value of £50 million seems like a huge amount of money for such a young man, especially given his continued inconsistencies, per Chris Bascombe of the Daily Telegraph.

B/R UK's James McNicholas, though, believes Sterling would fit right in at the Emirates, and Wenger clearly rates him highly:

The Frenchman recently named Sterling as one of his players of the season—alongside Chelsea's Eden Hazard—when quizzed on the matter, per the Daily Mirror's John Cross: "Hazard…. Sterling…. Maybe I forget some. Maybe Hazard."

Arsenal are enjoying an excellent spell of form at the moment. They are on course to reach the FA Cup final and have won their last eight league games in a row.

The excellence of forward men Olivier Giroud and Alexis Sanchez has been key to their recent success, and Graham is correct to suggest that Arsenal's real weaknesses lie in defence.

Sterling is a fine player and a good prospect, but he is not worth the £50 million Arsenal would need to pay for him in the summer. He is not a necessary singing for Wenger's Gunners as they look to compete for the title next season.

Battle on For Dybala

If Wenger is looking to strengthen in attack, a cheaper and arguably better target is Palermo striker Paulo Dybala.

The 21-year-old Argentinian has netted 13 times and assisted on nine occasions in Serie A this season, per WhoScored.com, and Palermo president Maurizio Zamparini recently confirmed that he would be sold this month, per Tuttosport (via Sky Sports).

Paolo Giovannini/Associated Press

Arsenal have been heavily linked with the youngster, but further suitors include Atletico Madrid, Juventus, Roma, Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain, per Jorge Garcia of AS. 

Indeed, Garcia reports that Atleti are set to open negotiations imminently, while Juve have already had a €32 million (£23 million) bid rejected, with Palermo refusing to sell for less than €40 million (£29 million).

He is a brilliant prospect, set to only improve as he gains more experience, and he is much better value for the money than Sterling.

But Wenger will have to act fast to tie Dybala down, as he is one of Europe's hottest properties at present.