Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has refused to rule out a blockbuster summer move for unsettled Liverpool midfielder Raheem Sterling.
Sky sources revealed on Monday that Sterling and his representatives intend to tell Liverpool he does not plan to sign a new deal at the club when contract talks resume later this week.
Arsenal and Manchester City have been linked with bids for the 20-year-old and an unusually coy Wenger refused to rule out the possibility when questioned at his weekly press conference.
“I do not bid for anybody at the moment,” Wenger said. “But in the summer we will bid for people, yes."
When pressed for clarification on whether Sterling is a player he is interested in, Wenger said: “I do not like to lie. If I say I will and I don’t do it, you will say I lied.”
The Gunners were unsuccessful when they tried to pry Luis Suarez from Liverpool’s grasp two years ago after lodging a bid of £40,000,001.
Wenger was asked if he was fearful of a repeat of that situation if he does elect to move for Sterling and he said the player’s wishes are the biggest factor.
“They (Liverpool) have the right to decide what they want but at the end of the day you need the agreement of the player as well,” added the Frenchman.
Sterling’s agent Aidy Ward attempted to defuse the situation on Tuesday by releasing a statement which stressed nothing definitive has yet been decided regarding the England international’s future.
“The story has been blown somewhat out of proportion,” Ward said.
“Raheem and his representatives have a meeting scheduled with Liverpool later this week and we will take proceedings from there.”
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