Chelsea transfer mess gets WORSE as Maresca tells €50m star to leave

Tom Weber

Updated: 17 Aug 2024 11:18 BST
3 min read

Chelsea's brutal treatment of their unwanted players continues as Enzo Maresca publically tells Ben Chilwell to leave.

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The Blues have once again been one of Europe's busiest clubs this summer, bringing in a host of players to the tune of almost €200 million. Despite this, coach Maresca said on Friday that he is hoping for more signings before the end of the window.

This, of course, came as a response to being asked about the potential incomings of Joao Felix and Victor Osimhen. The former is getting closer and closer as part of an unofficial swap deal with Conor Gallagher.

Gallagher was already in Spain to complete his move but confirmation had to be shelved when Samu Omorodion's transfer fell through, with the two clubs instead focusing on Felix. Gallagher is currently back in London and training with the rest of Chelsea's outcasts.

This group includes fellow academy graduates Trevoh Chalobah and Armando Broja, both of whom are also being forced out of the club. They have been barred from using first-team facilities and Chelsea are desperate to offload them.

Maresca tells Chilwell to leave

Now, another player has been on the receiving end of brutal, public treatment from the club. The man in question is Ben Chilwell. For weeks, there have been concerns about his suitability to Maresca's style and reports of a potential summer exit have surfaced.

Still, it came as a surprise when Maresca bluntly told the left-back to leave and find minutes elsewhere when facing the media on Friday. “Chilly is with us but he has not been training for the last few days because he has been ill,” the Italian said.

READ MORE: Chelsea fail in swap deal attempt

“The reason he did not play versus Inter was because with Chilly it is quite clear, even though I love the way he is, the problem is he is struggling a bit to find the right position...I need to make a decision and probably it is better to leave and go and get minutes. The transfer window is open so we’ll see what happens.”

Chilwell was signed from Leicester for €50 million in 2020 but has often struggled to stay fit consistently throughout a campaign. Nevertheless, it is quite stunning for his coach to come out and tell him to find a new employer.