Man Utd make January transfer move for Chelsea exile

Carlo Garganese

• Updated: 8 Oct 2024 12:08 BST
• 3 min read

Man Utd are preparing a move for Chelsea outcast Ben Chilwell.

According to CaughtOffside, Chilwell is top of United’s shortlist to strengthen their left back position in the January transfer window.

United plan to sign a left back as both of their natural options in the position - Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia - are constantly injured and have not played this season.

Diogo Dalot has deputised this season but has struggled out of his favoured right back role.

Chelsea will sanction a sale as there is no space for Chilwell at Stamford Bridge.

The England defender was placed in Chelsea’s Bomb Squad following Enzo Maresca’s arrival as manager this summer, but he was unable to secure a transfer away from the club.

Manchester United and Brentford were both briefly linked with a move for Chilwell, while multiple Turkish clubs expressed an interest without submitting a concrete bid.

As a result, the ex-Leicester City star remained at Chelsea, and although he has now returned to first-team training, the Blues are desperate to sell Chilwell in January.

He is yet to feature in a Premier League matchday squad this season, while his substitute cameo against Barrow in the Carabao Cup a fortnight ago is his only appearance so far this campaign.

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The fact Chilwell is paid so much at €12.4 million per season - and still has three years left on his contract - will make it difficult for Chelsea to offload him unless the player takes a substantial paycut.

Chilwell at Chelsea

Chilwell joined Chelsea in 2020 after bursting onto the scene at Leicester.

The left back moved to Stamford Bridge for a fee of over €50 million, which made him one of the most expensive players in history in his position.

He was a regular starter in his first season as Chelsea won the Champions League, but he has been blighted by injury problems in recent seasons.

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Chilwell made only seven Premier League appearances in the 2021-22 season and just 13 in the 2023-24 campaign as the injuries started to pile up.

He missed the 2022 World Cup and Euro 2024 partly as a consequence of his injuries.

In total, he has made 107 appearances for Chelsea, scoring nine goals. He has 21 caps for England, scoring one goal.