Enzo Maresca has made it clear that Ben Chilwell and five others are surplus to requirements.
image credit: Vince™
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca is focused on trimming his squad during the January transfer window, but his efforts face a significant challenge with Ben Chilwell, who has reportedly refused to take a pay cut to leave Stamford Bridge.
Chilwell joined Chelsea in 2020 from Leicester City for £50 million and still has two-and-a-half years remaining on his £190,000-a-week contract.
However, despite his high wages, the 28-year-old left-back has been sidelined under Maresca’s reign, with the manager making it clear that Chilwell no longer features in his plans.
Maresca discussed the situation, noting:
There are players that unfortunately didn’t play a lot with us in all the competitions, like Chilwell, like Carney. Probably they are the first that want to leave as they work every day, they train every day, they want to play games – and if they don’t play games, they are thinking of leaving.
He added:
“So we’re going to see if some of them are coming to knock on the door and say, ‘I want to leave.’ For each player it’s a different situation.”
Ben Chilwell is deemed surplus to requirements
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Despite Maresca’s clear signals that Chilwell is not in his immediate plans, the defender has yet to agree to a pay cut, leaving Chelsea with limited options.
Chilwell has not featured in any Conference League matches – a competition where other fringe players have had a chance to impress – and his only appearance this season was a 45-minute outing in a 5-0 Carabao Cup win over Barrow.
This frustration has led to speculation that Chilwell could leave, but his refusal to accept a pay cut complicates matters.
Chelsea may need to either offer Chilwell a severance package or facilitate a heavily subsidized loan to move him out of the club in January.
Chilwell’s prospects are also hindered by his injury history. Last season, he made just 13 Premier League appearances due to persistent hamstring and knee problems, which also caused him to miss out on England’s Euro 2024 campaign.
His injury record has led to doubts from clubs that had previously shown interest, including Manchester United, who may now reconsider a move for the player.
In September, Maresca confirmed Chilwell was training away from the main squad, further complicating the situation:
We are going to sit with him and find a solution because he is the only one. He is probably going to be back with us in a training session, we will see, because right now he is not training with us.
When asked about the possibility of Chilwell returning to the main group, Maresca added:
The reason why he is training apart is because of the situation. It’s important for the player and the club to find a solution.
Chilwell is among five players Chelsea is actively looking to offload in January, along with Carney Chukwuemeka, Cesare Casadei, Harvey Vale, and Alex Matos.
Maresca has been vocal about his preference for a smaller squad, emphasizing the need to create opportunities for those who are fully invested in the team’s objectives.
As the transfer window approaches, Chelsea faces a tricky balancing act – trying to resolve Chilwell’s situation while also meeting their financial goals and squad requirements.
His future remains uncertain, but one thing is clear: Chelsea must find a solution soon.