English Premier League club Chelsea decided yesterday to loan Ben Sahar to the League Championship's Charlton for three months from the beginning of August. At the end of the loan period - during which Sahar should get playing time at the recently relegated club that also calls London home - Chelsea will decide whether he can return to the Blues.

There is a pretty good chance that Sahar could return to Chelsea at that time, assuming that he proves himself, in light of the fact that a number of Chelsea players will leave the club in order to compete at the African Cup of Nations in January. If Chelsea decides not to bring him back then, Sahar will finish the season at Charlton.

Charlton, which was Sahar's preferred option as he wished to stay in London, initially did not want him, but after selling Darren Bent, manager Alan Pardew changed his mind.

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Sahar's mother, Batya, expressed satisfaction with the move. "[Ben] will be able to stay in London and should get to play," she said yesterday.