Arsenal interested in signing Liverpool's Raheem Sterling

Arsene Wenger is plotting a sensational summer move for Raheem Sterling.

Arsenal boss Wenger is a huge admirer of the Liverpool star – and is ready to try and take advantage of his on-going contract stand-off at Anfield.

Winger Sterling, 20, has shelved talks about his future until the summer to concentrate on his football, but Liverpool fear he will not re-sign.

That delay has alerted a host of big clubs, also including Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Manchester City.

City will test Liverpool’s resolve with a big bid when the transfer window opens at the end of the season.

But now Arsenal are also serious contenders and have made discreet enquiries about Sterling’s availability.

They would be ready to make a player who has been used as a wing-back at Liverpool in recent weeks central to their plans.

Wenger admitted in December that he regards Sterling as “one of the great players in England”.

Sterling, who has returned to his club from England duty after playing the last five games with an injection in a toe injury, has got two years left on his current £35,000-a-week deal.

Liverpool have made him an offer of around £90,000-a-week and Kop boss Brendan Rodgers is desperate for the player to commit himself to Anfield.

Arsenal’s relationship with Liverpool soured over Wenger’s pursuit of Luis Suarez in summer 2013, when they made their infamous bid of £40million plus another £1 to try to activate a clause in the Uruguayan striker’s contract.

That backfired spectacularly, but Liverpool are approaching a major dilemma as they may have to cash in on Sterling if they do not feel he will eventually sign a new deal.

Arsenal actually tried to sign Sterling as a 10-year-old, way before he moved from QPR to Liverpool for £600,000 in 2010.

Sterling was born in Jamaica but moved to London at age five and the Gunners will hope that a switch to a big club in the capital may appeal.

Arsenal have the cash and financial power to compete for the best players in Europe - and may also be ready to offload THEIR England wide-man Theo Walcott this summer.

Liverpool are long-term admirers of Walcott, who has 15 months left on his current deal.

Sterling could be seen as the ideal replacement at the Emirates for his Three Lions team-mate.