Raheem Sterling is ‘determined to STAY at Chelsea despite a disappointing first season’

Raheem Sterling is said to be determined to stay on at Chelsea and rediscover his form despite a lacklustre debut season in the capital, according to reports. 

The Manchester City winner was one of the marquee signings that ushered in the start of the new era under co-controlling owner Todd Boehly after he was tempted away from the club by a five-year £47.5million deal. 

But the 28-year-old has failed to replicate his Premier League-winning form in west London and his introduction during last week’s match against Bournemouth in the 63rd minute was greeted by a volley of boos.  

Sterling went on to provide an assist for Atletico Madrid loanee Joao Felix, who scored the Blues’ third in their first match win since beating Leicester under then-manager Graham Potter in early March. 

But the contribution was only the player’s fourth across all competitions, and Sterling has netted just seven goals in 35 appearances. 

Raheem Sterling is determined to stay at Chelsea and help take the club back to winning ways

Despite being welcomed to the pitch against Bournemouth by booing, Sterling set up a classy assist for Joao Felix

Chelsea’s woeful goalscoring form this season makes Sterling the second-highest scoring player in blue this season but by his own standards, his showings have been inconsistent at best. 

But as per talkSPORT, Sterling is committed to the club and wants to play a role in the squad’s looming summer rebuild. 

The side is bloated with players brought in across the last two transfer windows – during which the owners have spent an upwards of £600m on new recruits – leaving the club in desperate need of trimming the fat to ensure their continued presence in the transfer market and greater squad cohesion. 

The Blues are still without a permanent manager following Graham Potter’s dismissal in August but the club is expected to announce the appointment of Mauricio Pochettino as head coach imminently. 

Sterling is said to be excited by the prospect of working under the former Tottenham and Paris Saint-Germain manager, who will have an enormous task on his hands to get the disjointed and under-confident side back to the winning ways that have defined their recent history. 

Chelsea currently sit 11th in the Premier League table and with four matches left to play could be on track for their lowest-placed finish since 1993. 

Making a decision about Sterling is one of a number for Mauricio Pochettino (left); another is whether Romelu Lukaku (right) is part of his plans

The former City forward is one of a number of high-profile players that Pochettino will have to assess should he take the reins in west London. 

Felix’s loan will come to an end on the final day of the season and despite the player’s intent to stay, there is concern over a lack of Champions League football next season, which is all but guaranteed at his parent club. 

The club’s record signing Romelu Lukaku, currently playing on loan at Inter Milan, is due to return to England at the season’s end, and it remains unclear as to whether Pochettino believes he can coax out the player’s best form.

Should either he or the club wish to organise his exit, Chelsea would be unlikely to see a promising return on their investment after the two patchy seasons that followed his blockbuster £97.5m signing.