Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca has told Ben Chilwell that he can leave the club in the summer transfer window.
The left-back has seldom featured for the Blues in pre-season, playing just 67 minutes across three games and did not play at all in their final three warm-up fixtures.
That has led to speculation over the 27-year-old’s future amid concerns of his suitability to the Italian manager’s style of play, with Manchester United linked with a move for the defender.
Chelsea head into the 2024/25 Premier League season with a bloated squad that numbers 43 players. Maresca, who is tasked with cutting it down to size before deadline day on 30 August, admitted on Friday that Chilwell could leave Stamford Bridge in the next few weeks.
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Chelsea boss comments on potential Ben Chilwell transfer
“This morning we had 22 players training and if you ask all of them they want to play against City on Sunday but that is impossible,” Maresca responded when asked about Chilwell.
“When you train every day and not get any minutes it is not good for them or for me and I need to make a decision.
“Probably it is better to leave and go and get minutes. The transfer window is open so we will see what will happen.”
Conor Gallagher is another first-team player that could leave Chelsea this month, with Maresca hoping that a solution can be found that suits all parties.
“Conor is back and training a bit apart, he is doing some medical tests and training, he won’t be involved in this game,” he said.
“You know better than me that he is trying to find a solution with the club and we will see what happens.
“Hopefully Conor’s situation finishes with the player, the club and all the people happy.”
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