Raheem Sterling's stance on Arsenal future after Chelsea loan expires | OneFootball

As far is Raheem Sterling is concerned, Arsenal have not decided whether they will extend his stay at the club as his loan from Chelsea approaches its end, a report has claimed.

Shortly before the season began, reports emerged stating Sterling would be frozen out by Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca, with the Blues eventually agreeing to send the veteran forward to Arsenal on a loan deal which included no option for a permanent transfer and saw them agree to contribute a significant share of his wages.

Since moving to the Emirates Stadium, Sterling has failed to establish himself as a regular starter. Just 11 of his 24 appearances to date have come from the first whistle and he has racked up one goal and five assists across those outings.

While it is expected that Sterling will return to Chelsea this summer, The Mail state the 30-year-old has not yet heard a final decision either way and believes no definitive conclusion has yet been reached.

Manager Mikel Arteta has repeatedly hailed Sterling's impact behind the scenes but, on the field, he has failed to catch the eye and has operated largely as emergency cover while Arsenal have battled injuries to Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus.

Chelsea have no interest in reintegrating Sterling, whose hefty wages - thought to be over £300,000 per week - have become a significant problem for the Blues. There is an acceptance that Chelsea may have to reach a financial settlement with Sterling to convince him to walk away from the final two years of his contract at Stamford Bridge.

Sterling was the first high-profile signing of the new ownership at Chelsea in the summer of 2022 but has offered a mixed return for his £47.5m price tag, chipping in with 19 goals and 15 assists in 81 games for the Blues before joining Arsenal.

Any sale this summer is likely to represent a significant loss for the west London outfit but offloading Sterling's significant salary may be the priority for a side looking to trim their wage output.