Chelsea star Raheem Sterling is currently on a season-long loan at Arsenal (Picture: Getty)
Chelsea have reportedly made a decision over Raheem Sterling ahead of the January transfer window amid his disappointing loan spell at Arsenal.
Blues winger Sterling, 30, has failed to make much of an impact on the pitch since joining the Gunners in a temporary switch back in August.
Capped 82 times by England, Sterling has played 11 games for Mikel Arteta’s side to date, registering just one goal and two assists for Arsenal.
Sterling was handed a rare start in Arsenal’s Carabao Cup win over Crystal Palace last week – but he’s struggled for minutes across the Premier League and Champions League – and is regularly an unused substitute.
Despite his lack of game time, though, Chelsea have decided they will not recall Sterling from his season-long loan at the Emirates in the January transfer window, according to The Athletic.
Sterling himself is also thought to be happy to remain at Arsenal amid his lack of action, having become a popular figure in the club’s dressing room.
It is believed that Sterling, who missed Arsenal’s last Premier League match due to injury, is determined to force his way into the Gunners team during the second half of the season.
Raheem Sterling missed Arsenal’s last match via injury (Picture: Getty)
Arsenal manager Arteta recently said he had ‘sympathy’ for Sterling and explained that the Englishman has been impacted by the Gunners’ injury issues and suspensions, which have led to his minutes being limited.
‘He’s very good in the dressing room and is absolutely desperate to play,’ Arteta said about Sterling.
Raheem Sterling is ‘absolutely desperate to play’ (Picture: Getty)
‘When he hasn’t started the games, 90 per cent of the subs that I make is related to saving minutes or because of injuries or avoiding injuries. It’s not tactical reasons.’
Sterling’s loan at Arsenal is set to expire at the end of the season, which will see him return to Chelsea.
His contract at Stamford Bridge runs until 2027 after he signed a five-year deal in 2022 when he joined the club from Manchester City for £47.5m.
Meanwhile, former Liverpool striker Stan Collymore declared to Metro last month that Sterling was the Premier League ‘flop of the season’.