Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has said he regrets not signing a young Raheem Sterling while he was at QPR.
Sterling, 21, moved to Liverpool from QPR for £600,000 in 2010 and recently joined Manchester City for £49 million where he has become one of the best players in the Premier League.
The midfielder will be on Wenger’s radar again on Monday night as City take on Arsenal hoping to cut Leicester’s lead at the top of the table.
“We had many players on the flanks, but when Sterling was at QPR — that’s where we should take the players,” Wenger said. “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.”
Wenger also revealed that Danny Welbeck’s injury has deteriorated and the forward will continue to be out of action for the foreseeable future.
Welbeck, who is yet to play this season, is expected to be out until February with bone bruising and, with Alexis Sanchez and Jack Wilshere also on the sidelines, Wenger is concerned about his players’ fitness.
“Unfortunately he was injured at the end of April and we are now at the end of December and he is still not available because of a bone bruising,” Wenger added. “That deteriorated and it is a big blow to us. Especially now we cannot rotate.”
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