Chelsea could sell Ben Chilwell and Carney Chukwuemeka in January.(Image: Darren Walsh)

Enzo Maresca plans Chelsea transfer meeting as double January exit route emerges

The latest Chelsea transfer news as the Blues 'consider' sanctioning January sales for two first-team players not in Enzo Maresca's future plans.

06 Oct 2024, 12:00 by Josh Holland · football.london

Chelsea will reportedly hold a crucial transfer meeting in the coming weeks ahead of the January transfer window to determine the futures of Ben Chilwell and Carney Chukwuemeka.

Reports from CaughtOffside indicate that sources claim the Blues are expecting a quiet window in January, after a rather hectic summer. An outlay of £219.6million was spent, with nearly half of that on Pedro Neto and Joao Felix.

The investment has led to Enzo Maresca starting his time at Stamford Bridge well with the club currently placed in the Premier League's top-four places. However, as has been one problem over recent years, there are some players facing an uncertain time in west London.

Now, this report claims that Chilwell and Chukwuemeka could leave Chelsea mid-season. Both were the subject to interest from clubs this summer, but failed to clinch moves away.

Manchester United were, reportedly, interested in Chilwell in the summer amid continued absences for Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia. Erik ten Hag is thought to be desperate to sign a new left-back.

As for Chukwuemeka, AC Milan and Premier League clubs were said to be keen on the midfielder. Both players have only appeared once for Chelsea this season, the 5-0 win over Barrow in the Carabao Cup, and have shown how Maresca views them in his squad.

Asked if Chilwell would feature more often for Chelsea after his cameo in the cup, he said: "Yes, at the moment we need him, why not? I said already many times and I will say this again that, as long as Chilly [Ben Chilwell] is with us, he's a Chelsea player. And if we need him, we give him a chance and minutes."

"We all make mistakes. Probably yes; probably no," he added when asked if he regretted informing the left-back to look for a new club. "I'm here to make decisions. Sometimes they are good decisions and sometimes not."

"The only thing I can say is that there's not any bad intention from me. It's just to see things - and try to think about the best things for the club."

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