BACK David Tully Aug 19th 2024 Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca has revealed that Manchester United transfer target Ben Chilwell is not part of his first-team plans and could “leave” Stamford Bridge ahead of deadline day next week. Erik ten Hag’s side were linked with the fullback last month and, asked about the player’s future at the weekend, Maresca replied: “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.” United need to recruit a left-back Luke Shaw’s latest fitness setback places more urgency on finding suitable cover for the England international before the transfer window closes. The Red Devils are limited in what they can do financially, so a loan is the likeliest possibility, but that does limit the quality and type of fullback that can be signed. Chilwell’s injury record is a major concern While not many people would dispute the quality that the Chelsea defender possesses, there are huge question marks about his fitness. Chilwell has spent lengthy spells on the treatment table in recent seasons with knee and hamstring problems. Since joining the Blues in the summer of 2020, the 27-year-old has been out of action for 446 days; missing 100 games in total for club and country. Considering the problems that both Shaw and Tyrell Malacia have had staying fit, it wouldn’t be a great idea to add another injury-prone player to the mix. Watch Football and Sport programmes on Shots! here David Tully David has worked as a football reporter for the last fifteen years. Having started as an intern at Snack Media, he then went on to become a freelancer, working on various different sites. At the start of 2023, he took up his current role as content writer for National World’s Football News Network.
