Arsenal don’t intend to sign Raheem Sterling from Chelsea on a permanent deal at the end of the season, according to a report.
Pete O’Rourke reports for Football Insider that Arsenal have no plans to sign Raheem Sterling at the end of the 2024/25 campaign, when his loan deal from Chelsea will expire.
Sterling will instead return to his parent club, at which point they’ll make a decision about his long-term future.
O’Rourke claims Mikel Arteta has been disappointed with Sterling’s impact, and he’ll turn his attention towards other summer signings.
Officially, Sterling’s move to Arsenal was always only a loan move, with no option in his contract to turn the deal permanent.
But reports last summer suggested that the Gunners would consider a permanent move if the loan went well, with Chelsea clearly keen to offload the 30-year-old.
Unfortunately, the season hasn’t gone to plan. Sterling has made just 11 starts in all competitions, and he has six goal contributions across his 24 appearances overall.
There have been some positive moments, such as his goal and assist in the run to the League Cup semi-final, and his recent brace of assists in the Champions League knockouts against PSV Eindhoven. But those displays have been few and far between.
Sterling was suspended for last Tuesday’s game against Real Madrid, having picked up his third Champions League yellow card of the season against PSV.
The winger will be available again for the second leg on Wednesday, with the competition now his last realistic chance of silverware in north London.