Arsenal Transfer News: Latest on Raheem Sterling and Karim Benzema Rumours

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has revealed he regrets not signing Manchester City starlet Raheem Sterling earlier in his career.

The forward moved from Liverpool to City in the summer in a deal that could eventually be worth a whopping £49 million deal and has performed well at the Etihad Stadium since. Ahead of City’s trip to the Emirates Stadium for a crunch game on Monday, Wenger revealed that while the Gunners were not in for Sterling in the summer, they did have the chance to land him previously.

“We had many players on the flanks, but Sterling was at Queens Park Rangers—that’s where we should take the players,” said Wenger, per Jack Gaughan of MailOnline. “We watched him but you miss obvious players. The history of every club is full of top players that you missed. At the time Liverpool were quicker.”

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Sterling has helped bring a directness to this City team that was scarce last season, and as we can see here, courtesy of the Champions League's Twitter account, he’s performed especially well on the European stage:

Although the 21-year-old is thriving, it would have been intriguing to see how he would have developed under Wenger. The Frenchman is a manager who's always been willing to give young players a chance, and Sterling’s potential would have surely pushed him close to the first XI at the Emirates.

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However, despite criticism over the manner in which he handled his summer transfer, Sterling seems poised to scale great heights in his career and is making fine progress at City. A strong display on Monday evening to help his team to three points would be an emphatic indicator to Wenger and the rest of the football world of just how far he has come.

City, Chelsea Chasing Karim Benzema

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According to Tom Hopkinson of the Sunday Mirror, Manchester City and Chelsea are keeping tabs on long-term Arsenal target Karim Benzema, who is said to be “unsettled” at Real Madrid.

As reported by Hopkinson, the Gunners were linked with a move for the France international striker throughout the summer, but a deal never came to fruition. It’s now claimed Benzema will seek to push through a move in January as he is unhappy at the lack of support the club has given him amid allegations of blackmail.

Hopkinson cited a potential sum of £23 million for the striker. If that was the fee needed to lure him away from the Santiago Bernabeu, surely the Gunners would be keen; here’s a look at why:

Benzema, although understated in style compared to Real’s other flashy forward players, is one of the most effective strikers on the planet. The Frenchman can do it all, whether operating as a target man, dropping off the front or spinning wide.

Throughout his career, he’s made decisive contributions in the attacking third, demonstrated RMadridHome:

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Karim Benzema in his career: • 524 Games • 239 Goals • 94 Assists pic.twitter.com/lvUP8StNzy

— RMadridHome (@RMadridHome) December 15, 2015"

In Olivier Giroud, the Gunners are in possession a quality striker. But it’s noticeable there is a lack of dynamism up front at times, and a different option would make the Arsenal attack even more formidable. Needless to say, Benzema is capable of providing that kind of edge.

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Real would surely be unwilling to do business with Arsenal, City or Chelsea in January, though. Benzema is a critical component of this Los Blancos outfit, and manager Rafael Benitez would likely be loath to let a player of his quality go. If Benzema is to make a move, it’s likely to be in the summer, when Real will be much better placed to bring in a replacement.