July 9th 2024.
The new boss at Stamford Bridge, Enzo Maresca, has started his training with Chelsea. But former player Wayne Bridge has a warning for the club - they'll regret it if they decide to sell Ben Chilwell. The talented left-back has unexpectedly become a target for rivals Manchester United in the Premier League.
Chilwell joined Chelsea in 2020 for a hefty £45 million from Leicester City and has since made over 100 appearances for the Blues. He played a pivotal role in their Champions League win in his first season with the club. However, his career has been plagued with injury problems, limiting his game time to just seven league appearances last season and 13 the year before.
There are reports that Chilwell's future at Chelsea is uncertain with Maresca taking over as the new manager. The Italian is known for his unique style of having full-backs invert into midfield when his team has possession. This has sparked speculation of a potential replacement in the form of Italy's Riccardo Calafiori, who is left-footed. But it seems that Chelsea's London rivals Arsenal are poised to secure Calafiori's signature, leaving Manchester United to swoop in for Chilwell.
Former Chelsea defender Bridge believes that it would be a mistake to let go of Chilwell and that the 27-year-old can prove his worth to Maresca during pre-season training. Maresca, who left Leicester City to join Chelsea, took charge of his first training session on Monday, replacing Mauricio Pochettino.
"I'd look to keep him, but he just has to stay fit," Bridge said in an interview with Betfred. "He's missed a lot of games for Chelsea but if he can stay fit, then I don't know why you'd want to get rid of him, unless there's something going on in the background that we don't know about. I just believe that Ben has a lot of ability and is capable of proving himself, as long as he stays fit."
Manchester United's interest in Chilwell comes after their struggles with injuries in the left-back position last season. With both Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia sidelined, manager Erik ten Hag is looking to strengthen his defensive options.
Bridge also believes that if Chilwell impresses Maresca during pre-season, he still has a chance of staying at Chelsea. He acknowledges that there is a shortage of quality left-backs in the market and Chilwell is a valuable asset to the team.
However, if Chelsea do decide to sell Chilwell, Bridge believes that they will need to enter the transfer market to find a replacement. He suggests that Marc Cucurella, who had a successful loan spell at Brighton, could be an option. But he also acknowledges the challenges of adapting to a new club and playing style.
"In my opinion, if it was a choice between the two, I would keep Ben Chilwell," Bridge added. "But if he does end up leaving, then Chelsea will need to find a replacement."
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