Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has revealed that Nigerian midfielder Carney Chukwuemeka and defender Ben Chilwell are contemplating leaving Stamford Bridge in the January transfer window in search of more regular playing time.
The announcement came during a press conference ahead of Chelsea’s Premier League clash with Everton.
Chukwuemeka, who joined Chelsea from Aston Villa in the summer of 2022, has struggled to secure consistent minutes this season, featuring in just five matches across the UEFA Conference League and Carabao Cup.
The 19-year-old midfielder showed promise early in his Chelsea career, even scoring his first goal for the club during a 3-1 loss to West Ham. However, a knee injury disrupted his progress, and despite recovering, he has struggled to regain a place in the starting lineup.
Addressing the players’ situation, Maresca acknowledged that both Chukwuemeka and Chilwell are frustrated with their limited playing time.
“There are players who, unfortunately, haven’t played a lot with us across all competitions, like Ben Chilwell and Carney Chukwuemeka,” Maresca told reporters, as quoted by Football.London. “They are probably the first to want to leave because they train every day and want to play games.
“If they don’t play, they may think about leaving. We’ll see how things unfold. Each player’s situation is different, and if some come to me and express their desire to leave, we’ll try to find a solution.”
Chukwuemeka, who has represented England at youth levels from U17 to U20, is yet to earn a senior cap for the Three Lions. This leaves him eligible to switch allegiance to the Super Eagles of Nigeria, should he choose to represent his country of descent.
As the January transfer window approaches, both Chukwuemeka and Chilwell are expected to assess their options to ensure more regular playing opportunities.
