January 2nd 2025.
Enzo Maresca is determined to find a solution for the outcast Ben Chilwell at Chelsea. The left-back, who has fallen out of favor with the club, is facing a transfer dilemma as he reportedly refused to take a pay cut to help facilitate a January exit. Maresca, the head coach, has made it clear that he wants to get rid of the 28-year-old this month, but the club is struggling to find a suitable deal.
With the transfer window now open, Chelsea had hoped that Chilwell would agree to a reduction in his £190k-a-week salary to make a potential sale more feasible. However, according to The Sun, the player has refused to budge, dealing a major blow to the club's plans. This means that Chelsea may have to offer a hefty severance package or heavily subsidize a loan deal to another club.
Maresca had informed Chilwell last summer that he was no longer needed, and the player has only played 45 minutes of football this season, in a Carabao Cup match against Barrow AFC. In a recent interview, Maresca admitted that he expected Chilwell to seek a transfer in the January window, given his lack of playing time at Stamford Bridge.
The situation is not looking promising for Chilwell, who was not even included in Chelsea's squad for the Conference League this season. The club's B team, managed by Maresca, has been participating in the competition, further highlighting Chilwell's absence. The player, who is under contract until 2027, joined Chelsea from Leicester City in a £50m deal in 2020. He has made a total of 107 appearances for the club, scoring nine goals and providing 12 assists. In 2021, Chilwell played a key role in helping Chelsea win the Champions League under former manager Thomas Tuchel.
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