Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca has disclosed that England defender Ben Chilwell and midfielder Carney Chukwuemeka may depart the club in the upcoming January transfer window.
Both players have seen limited playing time in the Premier League this season and have had minimal involvement in the Conference League and Carabao Cup competitions.
Chilwell, an England international who last featured for his country in friendlies against Brazil and Belgium, was informed in August that he was not part of the head coach’s plans. Despite this, he was unable to secure a transfer before the deadline.
Chukwuemeka, a £20 million acquisition from Aston Villa in January 2023, has mostly been used as a substitute in the Conference League matches. However, he was left out of the squad for the recent 5-1 victory over Shamrock Rovers.
“There are players like Chilwell and Carney who haven’t had much game time with us across all competitions,” Maresca stated ahead of the Everton game on Sunday.
“They are likely the first ones looking to move on because they are eager to play. If they are not getting the opportunity, they may consider leaving.
“Each player has a unique situation, so we will see if any of them express the desire to depart. We will work towards finding a resolution.”
Furthermore, Reece James, who has been sidelined since the draw with Arsenal in November, is anticipated to participate in partial first-team training on Friday as he continues his recovery from a hamstring injury.
“This doesn’t guarantee his availability for Sunday or the following matches,” Maresca clarified. “The plan is to gradually integrate him into training with the team and assess his fitness from there.”