Arsenal offered Raheem Sterling as Chelsea seek Deadline Day exit

Arsenal have been offered Raheem Sterling, as Chelsea seek to find a taker for the forward in the final hours of the transfer window.

Sterling is trying to secure a move out of Chelsea on deadline day and Arsenal are keen to sign an attacker.

Any deal for Sterling will be complicated by his wages of more than £300,000 a week.

Mikel Arteta distanced Arsenal from a move for Sterling last week, but he remains a deadline-day option for the Gunners even if the chances of a deal appear remote.

Deadline Day LIVE! Latest transfer news, rumours and done deals

Sterling wants to move to stay in the Premier League after being after being frozen out by Enzo Maresca and stripped of his Chelsea No7 shirt.

The 29-year-old would prefer to secure a permanent move out of Chelsea.

It is hard to see Chelsea striking a deal with any Premier League club unless they subsidise most of his wages or he agrees to take a significant pay cut.

Arteta knows Sterling from their time together at Manchester City, when one of Pep Guardiola’s assistants.

Asked last week if he was tempted to give Sterling a call now over a possible reunion, Arteta said: “No, but I can talk about my time with Raheem.

“It was exceptional, we built a really strong relationship together. He was unbelievable at the time we were together and he taught me a lot as well.

“About individuals, how they play and how we give them support and help them. He’s someone I have a really strong feeling about.”