Whether Arsenal could sign Raheem Sterling from Chelsea permanently

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Arsenal signed Raheem Sterling from Chelsea on a season-long loan deal at the end of the summer transfer window.

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca made it clear that Raheem Sterling was not part of his plans, leaving the winger with no choice but to move across London.

A return to Stamford Bridge now looks unlikely, with the Blues stacked with attacking options.

One of those options is Joao Felix, and it has been claimed that Chelsea’s data has suggested that Felix will surpass Sterling.

• READ MORE: Micah Richards has changed his mind on Raheem Sterling since he left Chelsea this summer

Raheem Sterling’s long-term future

Again, it does not look like Sterling will be heading back to Chelsea, especially if Maresca is still in charge.

Arsenal are not believed to have an option to buy the 29-year-old, but there is still a chance of the Gunners signing him permanently next year, according to journalist Ben Jacobs.

Speaking to GiveMeSport, Jacobs said: “Yeah, it’s possible. Raheem Sterling is very excited by the Arsenal move, a player that Mikel Arteta knows well, and exactly the kind of signing that Arsenal have done in the past, where they’ve seen opportunism in the market.”

The journalist later went on to add: “He’s prepared to be a squad player, and he knows that he’s going to be integrated into the culture and get a fair amount of minutes throughout the season.”

Jadon Sancho has replaced Raheem Sterling

Even if Maresca wanted Sterling back in his squad, a return to west London would make little sense.

Following Sterling’s exit, Chelsea signed Jadon Sancho from Manchester United on loan with an obligation to buy.

Sancho and Sterling are left wingers, though both men can also play on the right. Ultimately, the 24-year-old and Pedro Neto have basically replaced the former Manchester City star.

Darren Bent hopes Sancho does well at Chelsea, with the England international possibly set to make his debut in blue after the international break when Maresca’s men take on Bournemouth.

Whether he performs well or not this season, though, Sterling’s Chelsea career certainly looks over.

It would probably have to take Sterling having an amazing campaign and Mykhailo Mudryk having a stinker for Chelsea to consider bringing the new Arsenal signing back into the fold.

Sterling has not delivered at Stamford Bridge, scoring just eight league goals last season, and is on massive wages. The club will want him gone for good next summer.