Arsenal ‘offered chance to sign Raheem Sterling’ with Chelsea ‘open to a loan deal’ for £325,000-a-week star

ARSENAL have been “offered the chance” to sign Chelsea forward Raheem Sterling on loan, according to reports.

The English forward, 29, has been told by Blues boss Enzo Maresca that he will not play if he stays at Stamford Bridge.

Raheem Sterling looks poised to leave Chelsea before the transfer window closesGetty

Sterling scored eight Premier League goals for Chelsea last season

Manchester United are linked with a swap deal for Sterling with Jadon Sancho going the other way.

But now Arsenal have entered the fray as a potential destination for the ex-Liverpool and Manchester City man.

According to ESPN, Chelsea have offered Sterling to Arsenal as they attempt to offload his £325,000-a-week wages.

Fabrizio Romano is also reporting Arsenal are “discussing [the move] internally”.

Chelsea are open to a loan deal as Sterling has three years left on his contract.

Speaking about Sterling earlier this week, Maresca said: “Raheem is a fantastic person, a fantastic guy, he trains very well. The only thing is; every manager has different ideas.

“I said in terms of the kind of winger, he is not one I like but it doesn’t mean nothing if he is not a good player. I think the history and numbers speak for Raheem.

“My advice – he knows exactly what he has to do. He doesn’t need my advice.”

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He went on to add: “I prefer to be honest with the player, with Raheem, I’ve been exactly the same.

“The ones who are not involved, they are all players who are not going to be involved and they don’t get any minutes in case they stay.

“I don’t know what happens, when the window closes. We will see who is here and who is not here.

“The only thing I can say is the ones who are going to get minutes are the ones who I think can help us.”

Sterling, who has 19 goals and 12 assists in 81 games for Chelsea, arrived in a £50million deal from Man City two years ago.

The news linking him to Arsenal comes just hours before the window closes on Friday evening.

And Chelsea have already suffered a blow on deadline day after it was reported Al-Ahli are closing in on BOTH their striker targets, Victor Osimhen and Ivan Toney.

However, it is understood the Saudi Arabian side do not have the funds or space for the two forwards.

This could mean Chelsea still have a chance of signing one of them as their summer spending threatens to exceed £250m.