Chelsea could sign another defender this summer transfer window - Romano

Jacque Talbot

Updated: 18 Aug 2024 13:45 BST
4 min read

Chelsea will look to sign a replacement if Ben Chilwell leaves, Fabrizio Romano has said.

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The Italian transfer expert has been front and centre of the Blues' transfer business this summer window. Most recently, he spoke about the future of Chilwell, who the club have made available for sale.

"Chelsea will try to sell Ben Chilwell [and] they will look for a solution," he reported. It means that the London club will be in the market for a replacement despite being well-equipped in that area.

Chilwell's future at Stamford Bridge was never certain going into the summer transfer window. But then Blues head coach Enzo Maresca publically suggested that the former England international find a new club. The former Leicester City man isn’t a natural fit in his preferred system, with Maresca saying he should leave to look for minutes.

Current ETV

Ben Chilwell

D, M (L)

Chelsea

Ben Chilwell

D, M (L)

Chelsea

ETV Range

€17.4M - €29M

"Chilly [Chilwell] has not been training for the last few days because he has been ill," Maresca told reporters. "It's quite clear, I love the way he is but the problem is that he struggles with us a little bit to find his best position."

"This morning we had 22 players training, and if you ask all of them they will say they want to play against City on Sunday but that is impossible.

"When they train every day and do not get any minutes, it is not good for them or for me, [as] I need to make a decision. It is probably better to leave and get minutes [elsewhere]. The transfer window is open so we'll see what happens."

© IMAGO - Enzo Maresca left the door open for Ben Chilwell to leave

Chilwell starred during his first season at Stamford Bridge, as he helped the club win the 2021 Champions League, but injury problems have plagued his Chelsea career ever since.

So far during pre-season, Maresca has used Reece James and Malo Gusto as inverted right-backs, while Levi Colwill has started at left-back before moving into a centre-back role in possession.

As a more attack-minded full-back, Chilwell doesn’t have a natural home in Chelsea’s new style of play and Maresca’s comments prove he is clearly struggling to find a place for the 27-year-old.

Marc Cucurella and new signing Renato Veiga are also left-back options available to the Blues, and Chelsea could feasibly look to sell Chilwell if he doesn’t fit in Maresca’s system.

Manchester United have been linked with a move for the ex-Leicester City star, who has three years left on his current Stamford Bridge deal.